Commissioners approve duck and goose zone units for 2026-27

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved modified Duck Zones and Goose Units for submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at its June 13 meeting in Sidney.

Changes to the zones and units would not become effective until the 2026-27 waterfowl season. Recommendations are based on federal criteria in conjunction with feedback from hunters who gave input on boundaries and their proposed modifications in 2024 and 2025.

Commissioners also heard staff recommendations for a 2026 mountain hunting lion season in the Pine Ridge, Niobrara and Wildcat Hills units, with adjusted harvest limits compared to the 2025 season.

After hearing the research, recommendations and testimony and considering concerns from local landowners, commissioners voted to amend staff recommendations to increase the harvest limit in the Wildcat Hills Unit to three lions with a sublimit of two females up from two lions with a sublimit of one female. The Commission approved the Niobrara Unit at six lions with a sublimit of three females and the Pine Ridge Unit with a total of 12 lions with a sublimit of six females.

Due to the amended change and following the Nebraska Administrative Procedures Act, the Commission will issue a public notice for a new public hearing for input and for approval of the 2026 mountain lion season for all units. The public hearing will be held Aug. 22, 2025, in McCook.

Staff reminded commissioners that resources are available to landowners and allowances are provided for public safety and addressing depredation events by mountain lions.

In other business, commissioners heard about recent improvements to the agency’s website; a report on Memorial Day weekend in Nebraska state parks, recent improvements and an outlook for summer; and updates on agency projects, research efforts and programs in the Panhandle region.

To view read the waterfowl recommendations, go to OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “waterfowl rezoning process.”  Additional proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders will be updated and posted at OutdoorNebraska.gov.