Forecast: A mild winter and timely—but not excessive—spring rains have created ideal conditions for pheasants in Nebraska. Results from the July rural mail carrier survey show that pheasant numbers are up significantly in all regions of the state compared with last year. Statewide pheasant numbers increased 55 percent, according to the survey.
Best hunting will probably be found in the southwest region, which showed an 83 percent improvement over last year. Top counties, based on the survey and staff observations, were Hitchcock, Perkins, Furnas, Hayes, and Frontier.
Also excellent will be the Panhandle, where pheasant numbers jumped by 132 percent. Best counties are Sheridan, Box Butte, Cheyenne, and Banner.
Despite hard rain and hailstorms, other regions of the state also show significant increases in pheasant numbers. The central region recorded a 52 percent increase, the northeast 23 percent, Sandhills 17 percent, and southeast 64 percent.
According to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, “CRP loss continues in the northeast, affecting overall abundance and access.”
Season Dates: October 31, 2015 through January 31, 2016
Youth Season Dates: October 24 & 25 (designated WMAs only; age 15 or younger; daily bag limit 2, possession limit 4)
Daily Bag Limit: 3
Possession Limit: 12
Helpful Links: