Expectations high for state’s pheasant opener

Upland bird hunters across the state will go afield Oct. 25 for Nebraska’s pheasant season opener.

Nebraska’s diverse habitats and variety of opportunity continue to make Nebraska’s upland hunting seasons attractive to hunters and set it apart from other states.

Expectations for the 2025 pheasant and quail season are optimistic as field reports are frequent and surveys show positive pheasant numbers in locations across the state, according to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission surveys.

Those surveys showed this spring that the Panhandle and Southwest regions supported relatively high pheasant densities, and the Central, Northeast and Sandhills regions all saw increases in densities compared to 2024. However, some areas of the state could see lower-than-expected production.

View the complete survey results at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching for “wildlife surveys,” or read the upland hunting forecast at OutdoorNebraska.gov/hunt/game/upland.

Preseason scouting is recommended as dry conditions early in the year triggered emergency haying and grazing eligibility on Conservation Reserve Program lands in 92 of Nebraska’s 93 counties this summer and fall. This will affect cover on some CRP fields, including some Game and Parks Open Fields and Waters Program sites. Learn more at OutdoorNebraska.gov by searching for “Haying and Grazing.”

Those seeking places to hunt should view the 2025-26 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, 470,000 acres of private lands are enrolled in Open Fields and Waters and are featured in the atlas.

For hunters pursuing upland birds in western and south-central Nebraska, the Stubble Access Guide displays an additional 33,400 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 are reminded to obtain permission prior to accessing privately-owned (non-OFW) lands in Nebraska regardless of whether the property is posted or not.

Other reminders:

• The upland bird season is an opportunity 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 northern bobwhite 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 2025-2026 Small Game and Waterfowl Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov for details.

Game and Parks also remind hunters to do their part to prevent wildfires by taking 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 underside of vehicle to confirm no debris is clinging to exhaust system.
• Carry a fire extinguisher in your 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.