Nebraska Duck Season 2026-27: Waterfowl Zone Dates

Q: When is duck season in Nebraska for 2026-27?

October 3, 2026 to January 27, 2027, split across 3 zones (Zone 1, Zone 2 (High Plains), Zone 3 (High Plains)), with split season segments inside the window. The full table on this page was read from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's own published page, linked beside it; confirm there before you hunt.

Q: What about goose season in Nebraska?

The goose table on this page lists the seasons as Nebraska Game and Parks Commission publishes them, by species group and zone. A light goose conservation order (a federal population control order, not a regular season) follows the regular season; the agency page carries its dates.

Q: Is there a September teal season in Nebraska?

Yes: September 5, 2026 to September 13, 2026, as published by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Nine day season in both the Low Plains and High Plains zones, shortened due to blue winged teal breeding population status.

Q: Which duck zone am I in?

Nebraska's zones (Zone 1, Zone 2 (High Plains), Zone 3 (High Plains)) are drawn by the agency along highways, rivers and county lines. Your zone is determined from the agency's own map: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission publishes the official zone map and boundary descriptions, linked from this page.

Q: Where are the bag limits, shooting hours and stamp requirements?

At Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, linked on this page, along with the federal duck stamp and HIP registration rules from USFWS. Those change annually and are legally binding. This page carries the season window, sourced and dated.

Q: Can these dates change?

Yes. This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 2, 2026, says so in the copy, and links the exact agency page it read. Agencies amend and correct their own tables; treat the agency page as the final word on the morning you hunt.

This page covers the 2026-27 season year. Dates were read from the agency sources linked below, last checked September 2, 2026. Seasons change annually and agencies correct their own pages; confirm against the linked agency page before you hunt.

October 3, 2026 to January 27, 2027

Duck season

published

3 zones

Zones

with split segments

Central

Flyway

federal framework

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Source

read 2026-09-01

The main event

Duck season in Nebraska, zone by zone

Ducks, 2026-27

publishedCentral Flyway

Duck season is OPEN now in the Zone 2 (High Plains), through December 15, 2026.

Nebraska duck seasons 2026-27, as published by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Zone	Season segments
Zone 1	October 24, 2026 to December 6, 2026December 19, 2026 to January 17, 2027
Zone 2 (High Plains)	October 3, 2026 to December 15, 2026January 6, 2027 to January 27, 2027
Zone 3 (High Plains)	October 24, 2026 to January 5, 2027January 6, 2027 to January 27, 2027

Dates read from Hunting Seasons, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (and the commission's 2026-2027 waterfowl approval release), accessed 2026-09-01.

Nebraska moved to a three duck zone configuration for 2026-27: the former Zone 4 was relabeled Zone 1 and the old Zone 1 absorbed into Zone 2. Youth and veteran days run per zone (Zone 2: Sep 26 to 27; Zones 1 and 3: Oct 17 to 18, 2026).

September teal: September 5, 2026 to September 13, 2026. Nine day season in both the Low Plains and High Plains zones, shortened due to blue winged teal breeding population status.

Waterfowl hunter setting goose decoys on a tidal flat with a retriever watching — Setting decoys with help. Photo: Rebecca Fabbri/USFWS. “Waterfowl hunter and dog” — Rebecca Fabbri / USFWS Alaska Region — Public domain

Geese

Goose seasons in Nebraska

Geese, 2026-27

published

Goose season	Dates
Dark goose, North Central unit	October 3, 2026 to January 15, 2027
Dark goose, Platte River unit	October 28, 2026 to February 9, 2027
Dark goose, Niobrara unit	October 28, 2026 to February 9, 2027
White-fronted goose, statewide	October 17, 2026 to December 27, 2026January 25, 2027 to February 9, 2027
Light goose regular season, statewide	October 3, 2026 to December 30, 2026January 25, 2027 to February 9, 2027

Dates read from Hunting Seasons, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (and the commission's 2026-2027 waterfowl approval release), accessed 2026-09-01.

A light goose conservation order (a federal population control order, not a regular season) follows the regular season; the agency page carries its dates.

Canada geese dropping into a refuge wetland with wings set — Canada geese dropping into a refuge marsh. Photo: Jennifer Jewett/USFWS. “Canada Geese” by Jennifer Jewett / USFWS Mountain-Prairie, CC BY 2.0

The structure over the state

How Nebraska’s dates get set: the Central Flyway

Waterfowl seasons are the most federal of all hunting seasons. Migratory birds cross every border, so the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes annual frameworks for each of the four administrative flyways, setting the earliest openers, latest closers and maximum season lengths, and each state then selects its own dates and zones inside its framework.

Nebraska selects its dates inside the Central Flyway framework. The Great Plains corridor from the Dakotas and Montana down through Texas.

Large mixed flock of ducks and geese over water at sunset — A mixed flock of ducks and geese at sunset. Photo: Steve Hillebrand/USFWS. “A mixed flock of ducks and geese fly from a wetland area” — Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service — Public domain

Rules

Nebraska waterfowl hunting regulations

Season windows are carried here with their source and read date attached. Everything else a hunter is bound by, including the federal duck stamp and HIP registration every waterfowl hunter needs, is set by Nebraska Game and Parks Commissionand USFWS, and the regulations page is linked below.

Current Nebraska regulations

Bag limits and species restrictions, shooting hours, duck stamp and HIP requirements, license rules, and youth or veteran season details for Nebraska are set by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, are legally binding and change annually. Its current regulations page is linked here.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: current regulations

Father and daughter in waders with a retriever in a duckweed marsh — Father and daughter on Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. Photo: Tim Miller/USFWS. “Waterfowl Hunting (Upper Mississippi River NWFR)” — Tim Miller / USFWS Midwest Region — Public domain

Nebraska waterfowl season questions

When is duck season in Nebraska for 2026-27?

What about goose season in Nebraska?

Is there a September teal season in Nebraska?

What is a flyway, and which one is Nebraska in?

Waterfowl seasons are set in two steps: the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service publishes annual federal frameworks for each of the four administrative flyways (Atlantic, Mississippi, Central, Pacific), setting the outside limits, and each state selects its season dates and zones inside its flyway's framework. Nebraska selects its dates inside the Central Flyway framework. The Great Plains corridor from the Dakotas and Montana down through Texas.

Which duck zone am I in?

Where are the bag limits, shooting hours and stamp requirements?

Can these dates change?

Wetland at sunset with a fallen snag and mountains on the horizon — Wood River Wetland, Oregon. The habitat the flyways run on. Photo: Greg Shine/BLM. “Wood River Wetland” — Greg Shine / Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington — Public domain

This page covers the 2026-27 season year with data as of September 2, 2026. Every season window is republished from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission page linked beside it, read on the date shown; windows the agency had not yet published are labelled not yet published. Bag limits, legal methods, shooting hours, stamp and license rules are set by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, whose pages are the final word on the day you hunt. See also the national waterfowl season guide.

Nebraska Duck & Goose Season 2026-27