Archery paddlefish season is June 1-30

Nebraska’s archery paddlefish season is open June 1-30 from sunrise to sunset on a designated area of the Missouri River.

That open area of the Missouri, where paddlefish may be taken by bow and arrow and possessed, is from Gavins Point Dam downstream to the mouth of the Big Sioux River at mile marker 734.

Closed during the archery paddlefish season is the north wall of the spillway and immediately below the dam powerhouse downstream to a line extending from the east end of the south cement wall of the discharge canal northwest to the east end of the north wall of the discharge canal.

The use of crossbows is not allowed in the area from the dam downstream to the U.S. Highway 81 bridge.

Also, from the open area below the dam to 0.6 miles downstream, archers may harvest paddlefish if they possess a valid Nebraska resident or Nebraska nonresident archery paddlefish permit – as well as a valid Nebraska fishing permit or a South Dakota resident archery paddlefish permit. A South Dakota nonresident fishing permit/tag is not valid in this area. In the remainder of the river open to archery paddlefish, South Dakota nonresident archery paddlefish permits are valid.

All paddlefish archery anglers must have in their possession a paddlefish tag and a Nebraska fishing permit, if required.

For more information, refer to the 2026 Nebraska Fishing Guide, which can be found at OutdoorNebraska.gov.