Jerry Kane
Public Information Officer | jerry.kane@nebraska.gov | 402.471.5008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Teal hunters reminded to identify species

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s teal hunting season continues on an experimental basis in the northern part of the state.

Continuation of the teal season depends on hunters’ ability to distinguish teal from other duck species. During this experimental season, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission again will evaluate the rate at which ducks other than teal are shot at or taken.

“If the rate is considered unacceptable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, northern portions of Nebraska will lose its teal season and, most likely, never get it back,” said Mark Vrtiska, Game and Parks’ waterfowl program manager. “Hunters who take or try to take ducks other than teal during the teal season will be subject to prosecution.”

Teal season is Sept. 2-10 in the High Plains Zone and Sept. 2-17 in the Low Plains Zone.

Hunters are reminded that state recreation areas (SRA) are closed to hunting until Tuesday, Sept. 5. Regulations state the portions of some SRAs are open to hunting from the first Tuesday following Labor Day through the end of the spring turkey hunting season, unless restricted.

Wildlife management areas, Open Fields and Waters sites and other public lands are open to hunting. The Public Access Atlas lists more than 300 publicly owned areas open to hunting. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/wheretohunt for public hunting access opportunities. 

For summaries of waterfowl regulations, read the Waterfowl Guide at Outdoornebraska.gov/guides/. Purchase permits at OutdoorNebraska.org.

-30-

September outdoor calendar

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in September. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes.

Sept. 1 – Hunting seasons open for cottontail, jackrabbit, dove, snipe, grouse, rail, raccoon and opossum

Sept. 1 – Archery, Season Choice, River Antlerless Private Land Only, Statewide Whitetail Buck, Gifford Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Youth, and Landowner deer hunting seasons open

September 1-4 – Nebraska State Fair, Grand Island

Sept. 2 – Buffalo Steak and Movie Night, Indian Cave State Park (SP), Shubert

Sept. 2 – Celebrating Nebraska Archaeology Month, Chadron SP, Chadron

Sept. 2-3 – Living History, Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP), Fort Calhoun

Sept. 2-3 – Bow Fishing, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland

Sept. 2-4 – Living History, Fort Kearny SHP, Kearney

Sept. 2-10 – Early teal hunting season in High Plains Zone

Sept. 2-17 – Early teal hunting season in Low Plains Zone

Sept. 3 – Buffalo Cookout and Living History, Indian Cave SP, Shubert

Sept. 3 – Nature Journaling Walk, Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen

Sept. 4 – Wildlife Day Celebration, Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area (SRA), Ogallala

Sept. 4 – Let’s Go Birding, Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala

Sept. 5 – Portions of some state recreation areas open to hunting through end of spring turkey season

Sept. 6 – Full Moon Walk, Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen

Sept. 7 – Let’s Go Birding, Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen

Sept. 8 – My, What Changes We Have Seen, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford

Sept. 9 – Night Owl 5K Run/Walk, Niobrara SP, Niobrara

Sept. 9 – Feathered Friends, Wildcat Hills SRA, Gering

Sept. 9 – Fly-Fishing Clinic, Fremont SRA, Fremont

Sept. 9 – Geocaching Treasure Hunt, Windmill SRA, Gibbon

Sept. 10 – Oktoberfest Meal, Fort Atkinson SHP, Fort Calhoun

Sept. 10 – Family Fishing Event, Riverside Discovery Center Pond, Scottsbluff

Sept. 12 – Learn to Hunt: Basics of Hunting workshop, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln

Sept. 15 – Fall turkey hunting season opens

Sept. 15 – Archery bull elk season opens

Sept. 16 – Muzzleloader antelope season opens

Sept. 16 – Ranch Life in the 1860s, Rock Creek Station SHP, Fairbury

Sept. 16 – Prairie Grass Hike, Rock Creek Station SHP, Fairbury

Sept. 16-17 – Missouri River Outdoor Expo, Ponca SP, Ponca

Sept. 18 – Final day of participation in and postmark deadline for the Great Park Pursuit

Sept. 22 – Let’s Go Birding, Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen

Sept. 22 – Star Party, Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen

Sept. 23 – Woodcock hunting season opens

Sept. 23-24 – Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Family Camp, Camp Carol Joy Holling, Ashland

Sept. 23-24 – Pioneer History, Arbor Lodge SHP, Nebraska City

Sept. 24 – World Heart Day Hike, Johnson Lake SRA, Elwood

Sept. 24 – Nature Journaling Walk, Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala

Sept. 29 – Let’s Go Birding, Lake Ogallala SRA, Ogallala

Sept. 29 – Coffee and Canvas, Lake McConaughy SRA, Ogallala

Sept. 30 – Cider and Canvas, Lake McConaughy SRA, Ogallala

Sept. 30 – Firearm bull elk season opens

Sept. 30 – Public land antlerless elk season opens

Sept. 30 – Wheels of Transportation, Arbor Lodge SHP, Nebraska City

Sept. 30 – Beyond Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Nature Art, Windmill SRA, Gibbon

Sept. 30 – Statehood: A New Beginning, Rock Creek Station SHP, Fairbury

Sept. 30 – Birding on Bikes, Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen

Sept. 30 – Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational, Pressey WMA, Oconto

Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Youth waterfowl hunting season in Zones 2 and 4

Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Living History, Fort Atkinson SHP, Fort Calhoun

-30-