The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved 2025-2026 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 21 meeting in Ord.

Approved staff recommendations entail Tier I daily bag limit for ducks including no more than three pintails for the 2025-2026 duck season. This pintail bag limit will be determined annually based on population dynamics research and is not guaranteed for any season.

Also approved was a nine-day early teal season in both Low Plains and High Plains zones after the 2024 blue-winged teal breeding population fell below 4.7 million birds. There had been a 16-day season in the Low Plains Zone in recent years.

The approved 2025-2026 Nebraska waterfowl season dates are:

Early Teal:

Low Plains – Sept. 6-14

High Plains – Sept. 6-14

Daily bag limit – six; Possession limit – 18

Youth, Veteran, and Active-Duty Military:

Zone 1 – Oct. 4-5

Zone 2 – Sept. 27-28

Zone 3 – Oct. 18-19

Zone 4 – Oct. 18-19

Daily bag – Same as regular season

Duck and Coot:

Zone 1 – Oct. 11-Dec. 23

Zone 2 – Oct. 4-Dec. 16 and Jan. 7-28 (High Plains)

Zone 3 – Oct. 25-Jan. 6 and Jan. 7-28 (High Plains)

Zone 4 – Oct. 25-Jan. 6

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. 4-Jan. 16

Daily bag limit – five; Possession limit – 15

White-fronted Goose:

Statewide – Oct. 4-Dec. 14 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9

Daily bag limit – two; Possession limit – six

Light Goose Regular Season:

Statewide – Oct. 4-Dec. 31 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. 11-Dec. 11 and Jan. 10-March 12

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, the commissioners approved a resolution to allow the agency director to sign future agreements with the Nebraska Department of Transportation concerning funding the surfacing of a section of the Cowboy Trail near Chadron.

Commissioners also approved a right-of-way easement request from Omaha Public Power District, for the installation of new power poles and overhead lines at Louisville State Recreation Area.

Staff gave a review of the permit system for 2024, an update on the walleye spawn, and a habitat presentation.

Hoyle breaks high score for females at NASP

Another state record fell at the National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament March 15 in Lincoln.

Maddie Hoyle of Lincoln Southwest scored 293 points out of a possible 300 shooting bull’s-eye targets for a record score for females at the 19th annual tournament at the Sandhills Global Events Center.

Another archer had set the same record with 292 points last year.

NASP is an in-school curriculum covering target archery for students in grades 4-12. The state tournament is the largest archery event in Nebraska. The state tournament saw student-archers from 33 schools shoot bull’s-eye targets.

The results:

Bull’s-Eye

SACO Duels – 1. St. John, $1,000 archery gear; 2. Lawrence-Nelson, $600 archery gear; 3./4. – Lincoln Pius X, $200 archery gear; 3./4. – Milford, $200 archery gear

NASP All-Nebraska Academic Archer Team

Addelynn Grunsey, Milford; Aiden Jedlecki, Cornerstone Christian; Anna Diessner, Tri-City Homeschool; Anne Ng, Omaha Mater Dei; Ayla Salistean, Milford; Bram Salistean, Milford; Brody Schnieders, Pius X; Calvin Falldorf, North Star; Chason Bell, Scott MS; Connor Rowe, Southwest; Heath Bacon, Milford; James Wissenburg, Milford; London Lambrecht, Southeast; Luke Roddel, Southwest; Macie Carte, Milford; Maddie Hoyle, Southwest; Maddox Sharp, Pius X; Meghan Morrison, Cornerstone Christian; Michael Geckle, Mater Dei; Natalie Nutzman, Milford; Oona Amelio, Mater Dei; Sara Cerise, Mater Dei; Serenity Weathers, Cornerstone Christian; Vinnie Vander Velde, Tri-City Homeschool

Nebraska Endowment Scholarship Winners

$2,500 – Male: Johnny Landsgaard, Mater Dei; Female: Maddie Hoyle, Southwest; $1,500 – Male: James Wissenburg, Milford; Female: Ayla Salistean, Milford; $1,000 – Male: Brody Schnieders, Pius X; Female: Anna Diessner, Tri-City Homeschool

Elementary

Female – 1. Tessa Collins, Cornerstone Christian, 269; 2. Christine Ng, Mater Dei Academy, 263; 3. Evelyn Lerch, Mater Dei, 254; 4. Anastasia Estrada, Mater Dei, 248; 5. Amabella Shumate, Mater Dei, 237

Male – 1. Hunter Therkildsen, Cornerstone Christian, 275; 2. Declan Moore, Cornerstone Christian, 247; 3. Turner Sharp, St. Peter’s; 4. Asis Diaz, Mater Dei, 245; 5. Deacon Peltier, Cornerstone Christian

Middle School

Female – 1. Anna Diessner, Tri-City Homeschool, 284; 2. Addelynn Gurnsey, Milford, 276; 3. Macie Carter, Milford, 274; 4. Avery Ostdiek, Lawrence-Nelson, 272 (tie broken); 5. Audrey Weers, 272

Male – 1. Eli Collins, Cornerstone Christian, 283; 2. Isaac Bisson, Cornerstone Christian, 282; 3. Julian Lerch, Mater Dei; 4. Chason Bell, Scott MS; 5. Bram Salistean, Milford, 274

High School

Female – 1. Maddie Hoyle, Southwest, 293; 2. Meghan Morrison, Cornerstone Christian, 284 (tie broken); 3. Ayla Salistean, Milford, 284; 4. Anne Ng, Mater Dei, 279; 5. Serenity Weathers, Cornerstone Christian, 278

Male – 1. Johnny Landsgaard, Mater Dei, 287; 2. Jakob Woita, Milford, 286; 3. Heath Bacon, 284; 4. Brody Schnieders, Pius X, 283; 5. James Wissenburg, Milford, 282

Overall High Scores

Female – Maddie Hoyle, Southwest, 293

Male – Johnny Landsgaard, Mater Dei, 287

Nebraska Bowhunter Association Sportsmanship Trophy – Pound Middle School

Team Awards

Elementary – 1. Cornerstone Christian, 2,591; 2. Mater Dei, 2,493; 3. Lawrence-Nelson, 2,391

Middle School – 1. Pound Middle School, 3,171; 2. Cornerstone Christian, 3,097; 3. Mater Dei, 3,042

High School – 1. Mater Dei, 3,294; 2. Milford, 3,283; 3. Pius X, 3,181

 

Midwest Walleye Challenge returns for second year

Anglers and biologists again are joining forces to bring a new kind of fishing tournament to Nebraska.

The second year of the Midwest Walleye Challenge will give anglers in states across the Midwest a chance to compete for prizes while collecting important data for biologists.

The collection of angler catch data during the Nebraska challenge, which runs April 1-June 29, can help the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission learn more about Nebraska walleye fisheries. In the process, Nebraska anglers can see how their walleye fisheries compare to others in the Midwest.

Here’s how it works: There is a $25 entry fee. Anglers record their walleye catches in the mobile app MyCatch. They must photograph their catches on a measuring device using the app. Once the fish is reviewed and meets rule requirements, it will appear on a live leaderboard. Weekly and grand prizes will be drawn.

More than $5,000 in prizes will be awarded throughout the competition. The prize structure is designed to encourage reporting any walleye catch (or lack thereof) so fisheries data collected is representative.

For more information and to sign up, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Midwest Walleye Challenge.”

 

Enjoy events in state parks this April

Spend some time this spring in Nebraska’s state parks. During April, a variety of events are planned for those for all ages and interests.

Don’t forget to purchase a vehicle park entry permit to enter the state parks. Get one at OutdoorNebraska.gov or at state park entrances.

Platte River Art Show at Mahoney SP

See to “the Most Prestigious Art Show on the River” when you visit the Platte River Art Show on April 4-6 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.

View paintings, sculpture, photography, pottery and more from reputable Midwestern artists, hosted by Nye Street Studio.

The show runs 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 5 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 6. It kicks off with a 6-9 p.m. wine and cheese reception April 4. The event will take place in the upper-level conference rooms at Peter Kiewit Lodge.

Elvis Dinner Theatre at Carl’s on April 12

Dine with Elvis, or at least an impersonator, at Carl’s at Mahoney on April 12. The Elvis Dinner Theatre has showtimes of 5 and 7 p.m.

Admission is $40 per person. That includes the show, a Memphis BBQ Buffet, salad bar, dessert, and nonalcoholic drinks. There will be no regular menu service. Alcoholic drinks are available for purchase.

For reservations, call 402-521-5711, Ext. 6. Only the dining room area will be used for this event.

Carl’s is located within Peter Kiewit Lodge at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park.

Reserve sharp-tailed grouse viewing at Niobrara State Park

Experience the sharp-tailed grouse mating dance from a viewing blind at Niobrara State Park.

Reserve the free viewing blinds through April 20. The large blind holds up to eight guests. A small, pop-up blind that can hold up to two people, also will be available for photographers with larger equipment. Both blinds are first-come, first-serve. Reserve a spot by calling the park office at 402-857-3373.

Discounted overnight stays at Niobrara SP also are available. Make an early arrival easy by staying at one of the park’s fully equipped cabins or electric campsites. Use promo code “SHARPTAIL25” on the reservation system for discounted weekend rates; weekdays during the offseason already include discounted rates.

Visit the calendar event entry at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov to make a reservation.

 

Schramm, Ponca SP to host fly-fishing, fly-tying classes

Anglers can learn the basics of fly-fishing and fly-tying at workshops April 19 at Schramm Education Center and April 26 at Ponca State Park.

These workshops, hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and taught by members of the Cornhusker Fly Fishers Club, will prepare participants to catch trout and panfish this spring.

These events will take place 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and will be limited to the first 25 registrants for each. The cost is $25 per person.

See the calendar event entries at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov to register or to find more information.

These workshops, open to new and experienced fly-fishers, will include all fishing equipment, materials and tools needed. Reading glasses are recommended for up-close work on fly-tying. Participants should be of sufficient age to comfortably and confidently handle a 9-foot, 5- or 6-weight fly rod.

Contact [email protected] with any questions.