Commissioners to consider 2026 mountain lion season

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2026 mountain lion hunting season at its Aug. 22 meeting in McCook.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. Central time at the Mid-Plains Community College conference room, 1205 E. 3^rd St.

Staff will recommend a mountain lion season in the Pine Ridge, Niobrara and Wildcat Hills units, with one adjustment from the 2025 season.

The harvest limit in the Niobrara Unit would increase to a maximum of six mountain lions, with a sublimit of three females; the maximum harvest in the Wildcat Hills Unit would remain at three, with a sublimit of two females; and the harvest limit in the Pine Ridge Unit would remain at 12 with a sublimit of six females.

Mountain lion recommendations were made at the commissioners’ June 13 meeting in Sidney. After hearing the research, recommendations and testimony and considering concerns from local landowners, commissioners amended staff recommendations to revert to the 2025 season harvest limits in the Wildcat Hills Unit of three lions with a sublimit of two females, up from an initial recommendation of two lions with a sublimit of one female.

Due to the amended change and following the Nebraska Administrative Procedures Act, the Commission scheduled a new public hearing for input and for approval of the 2026 mountain lion season for all units at the Aug. 22 meeting.

The commissioners also will hear a recommendation for a 2026 bighorn sheep regular hunting season. Staff will recommend authorizing one lottery and one auction permit for the season, which, if approved, would be Dec. 1-22, 2026.

Also, staff will propose fee increases for commissioners to consider that include resident and nonresident hunt and fish permits, paddlefish, youth, multiyear, combination, big game, and lottery, application fees, and nonresident aquatic invasive species stamp.

In other business, commissioners will consider staff recommendations to:

• approve hunting in some state parks and state historical parks for the 2025 seasons;
• rename Twin Lakes Wildlife Management Area in Rock County the Nick Lyman Wildlife Management Area;
• approve the Bighorn Sheep Restoration Facility Plan; and
• approve the third edition of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Plan.

Staff will give updates on collaborative fisheries management, an introduction of the southwest law enforcement team, a review of events during the 30^th anniversary of the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, and a report on the 20^th anniversary of the Missouri River Outdoor Expo on Sept. 20-21 at Ponca State Park.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “public notices.” To view proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders, search for “regulations.”