Commissioners to consider 2023-2024 waterfowl recommendations

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider 2023-2024 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 14 meeting in Kearney.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the North Platte Room at the Great Platte River Road Archway Monument, 3060 E. 1^st St.

Staff will recommend amending Commission Orders to opening duck season in Zone 3 a week later than the 2022-2023 season. The other recommended season dates are calendar date adjustments. Waterfowl recommendations are developed balancing hunter preferences with chronology of migration, hunter harvest, and hunter participation.

The 2023-2024 Nebraska waterfowl recommendations are:

Early Teal:

Low Plains – Sept. 2-17

High Plains – Sept. 2-10

Daily bag limit – six; Possession limit – 18

Youth Hunt:

Zone 1 – Oct. 7-8

Zone 2 – Sept. 30-Oct. 1

Zone 3 – Oct. 21-22

Zone 4 – Oct. 14-15

Daily bag – Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit – three times the daily bag limit

Duck and Coot:

Zone 1 – Oct. 14-Dec. 26

Zone 2 – Oct. 7-Dec. 19 and Jan. 10-31 (High Plains)

Zone 3 – Oct. 28-Jan. 9 and Jan. 10-31 (High Plains)

Zone 4 – Oct. 21-Jan. 2

Daily bag – Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit – three times the daily bag limit

Dark Goose:

Platte River Unit – Oct. 28-Feb. 9

Niobrara Unit – Oct. 28-Feb. 9

North Central Unit – Oct. 7-Jan. 19

Daily bag limit – five; Possession limit – 15

White-fronted Goose:

Statewide – Oct. 7-Dec. 17 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9

Daily bag limit – two; Possession limit – six

Light Goose Regular Season:

Statewide – Oct. 7-Jan. 3 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9

Daily bag limit – 50; Possession limit – none

Light Goose Conservation Order:

East Zone – Feb. 10-April 15

West Zone – Feb. 10-April 5

Rainwater Basin Zone – Feb. 10-April 5

Daily bag and possession limits – none

Crow:

Statewide – Oct. 14-Dec. 14 and Jan. 13-March 14

Daily bag and possession limits – none

Falconry:

Concurrent with teal, youth and regular duck season dates, plus,

Zone 1 – Feb. 25-March 10

Zone 2 – Low Plains: Feb. 25-March 10; High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone

Zone 3 – High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone

Zone 4 – Feb. 25-March 10

In other business, commissioners will consider proposed boating regulation changes to waters with special restrictions, regarding the addition and deletion of various waters that have special regulations regarding the type of vessels allowed to operate on those waters. Learn more by reading the Public Hearing Notice at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Also on the agenda are staff recommendations to:

• Amend wildlife regulations to allow elk harvested to be checked via telephone or internet instead of delivered to a check station before being processed.
• Approve the 2023-2025 Nebraska Game and Parks Strategic Plan.
• Designate the area formerly known as the Fort Kearny Shooting Sports Complex to the Kearney Outdoor Education Complex State Recreation Area, in accordance with statutes, and to establish fees for activities at the SRA.

The commissioners also will hear a review of the 2022 big game hunting seasons and a preview of spring events in state park areas.

See the full meeting agenda at OutdoorNebraska.org.