Excitement high for state’s pheasant opener

Eager hunters will take to the fields Oct. 26 for Nebraska’s pheasant season opener.

Field reports and surveys from earlier this year give an optimistic outlook for upland bird hunting this fall.

Statewide, pheasant counts were up 19% during this year’s July rural mail carrier surveys compared to last year and were near or exceeding five-year averages in all areas except the Sandhills.

Pheasant habitat is more isolated in eastern Nebraska, but where quality cover exists, hunters should find good bird numbers, according to Bryan O’Connor, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Portions of the Panhandle and southwest continue to support some of the highest pheasant numbers, but populations remain variable because of drought in recent years.

“Excitement builds toward the start of pheasant season every year as hunters look forward to going afield, watching their dogs work and experiencing Nebraska’s great upland hunting opportunities,” O’Connor said. “Nebraska’s diversity of habitats is what makes it attractive to hunters and sets it apart from other states.”

The hunting season for pheasant, quail and partridge is Oct. 26 through Jan. 31, 2025.

Last year’s relatively mild winter benefited quail populations across much of the state, and numbers increased in five of six management regions. According to surveys, southeastern and south-central regions support some of the state’s highest quail densities and should provide quality hunting opportunities.

View the full upland hunting forecast at OutdoorNebraska.gov/hunt/game/upland.

Preseason scouting is recommended as dry conditions have triggered emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program lands in 50 of Nebraska’s 93 counties this summer and fall. This likely will affect cover on some CRP fields in approved counties, including some Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters Program sites. For more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Haying and Grazing.”

Due to dry conditions, Game and Parks reminds hunters to act responsibly in the field and do their part in the prevention of wildfires. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln drought monitor (droughtmonitor.unl.edu), 83% of the state is experiencing moderate to extreme drought conditions. Game and Parks urges hunters to take the following precautions:

• Restrict driving to established roads and trails.
• Avoid parking vehicles in tall vegetation.
• Dispose of cigarettes and other flammable objects appropriately.
• Ensure your vehicle, trailers, and other equipment are well-maintained.
• Make sure no chains are dragging from your vehicle.
• In the morning, before driving and while the exhaust/catalytic converter system is cool, inspect it to see no debris is clinging to it.
• Carry a fire extinguisher in the vehicle.

Driving vehicles or parking on dry, tall grass is a primary threat. Grass can ignite within seconds of contacting a hot surface, such as a vehicle’s exhaust/catalytic converter systems.

Game and Parks has implemented a temporary ban on campfires at all Nebraska wildlife management areas and state park areas until further notice.

Other reminders:

• Hunters seeking places to hunt should view the 2024-25 Public Access Atlas, which displays more than 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska. In addition to state, federal and conservation partner lands, more than 409,000 acres of private lands are enrolled in Open Fields and Waters and featured in the atlas. For hunters pursuing upland birds in western and south-central Nebraska, the Stubble Access Guide displays an additional 41,500 acres of tall wheat or milo stubble fields and adjacent habitats open to public hunting access. Both publications are available at OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-maps/public-access-atlas.
• Hunters must obtain permission prior to accessing privately-owned (non-OFW) lands in Nebraska regardless of whether the property is posted or not.
• The upland bird season is an opportunity for hunters to pursue an Upland Slam, a partnership between Game and Parks and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever of Nebraska. The Slam challenges hunters to harvest a pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken and quail in Nebraska during the season. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Upland Slam” for more information.
• Grouse hunters are reminded of a required special permit to hunt in the East Zone (east of U.S. Highway 81).  See the 2024-2025 Small Game and Waterfowl Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov for details.