Several Hunting Seasons Opening in Early September

LINCOLN – September in Nebraska means football – and hunting. The first day of the month brings the opener of several hunting seasons, including dove, grouse and archery deer.

Dove hunters should be reminded that they are required to have a Harvest Information Program number. They can obtain one at outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hip or by calling 1-877-634-8687. The 2015 Dove Fact Sheet is a good source of information for the season and may be found at outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/guides/upland_game/pdf/dovefactsheet.pdf.

A resource for grouse hunters is the 2015 Upland Game Hunting Outlook, available at outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/guides/upland_game/pdf/UG_Nebraska_Forecast.pdf.

Archery deer hunting is available under the authority of several different permit types, although statewide archery permits are unlimited in number. Read the 2015 Big Game Guide at digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/502872-big-game-guide-2015 for more information.

Sept. 5 brings the opening day of early teal season in the Low Plains zone. The season opens in the High Plains zone on Sept. 12, and seasons in both zones run through Sept. 20.

The teal season in the northern portion of Nebraska is on an experimental basis. Continuation of the teal season in that area depends on hunters’ ability to distinguish teal from other duck species. During this experiment, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will evaluate the rate at which nontarget species are shot at or taken. If the rate is considered unacceptable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the northern portion of Nebraska will lose its teal season. In addition, those who take or attempt to take ducks other than teal will be subject to prosecution.

Other hunting seasons opening Sept. 1 are cottontail, jackrabbit, snipe, rail, raccoon and opossum.

A companion for every hunter should be the 2015 Nebraska Public Access Atlas. This free publication details sites enrolled in the Open Fields and Waters program, which allows public walk-in hunting, trapping and fishing access on private lands. The atlas also includes public lands. It is available wherever permits are sold and at digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/554204-public-access-atlas-2015.

Public hunting lands listed in the 2015 Hunting Guide now reference maps in the atlas that show their location. This publication is available at digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/550928-hunting-guide-2015.
Permits may be purchased at Game and Parks permitting offices or at OutdoorNebraska.org.