Why It Matters: The duck hunting season in Nebraska and South Dakota is right around the corner. Duck hunters in these states have two options when it comes to bag limits when they are registering for their Harvest Information Program numbers. The two-tier option aims to address the issue of declining duck hunter numbers and to ease the pressure on new and inexperienced hunters when it comes to identifying the species and sex of the ducks.
Highlights:
- Nebraska entered this pilot program with South Dakota in 2021, with the test program running through 2025.
- The overall goal of this pilot program is to reduce the barrier to entry and increase the number of duck hunters into the future.
With the summer coming to an end, it is almost time for duck hunters to hit their blinds. Duck hunters in Nebraska and South Dakota have two options when they are registering for their Harvest Information Program (HIP) numbers. This two-tier program began in 2021 and is set to conclude at the end of 2025 with the goal of seeking to reduce barriers to entry for new duck hunters, especially around waterfowl identification. When the pilot program comes to a close, the program will be assessed to determine the effect it had on duck hunter numbers and the duck population.
The overall goal of the two-tier program is to help with the decline in duck hunters by easing the pressure that new duck hunters face with identifying the duck species and sex. Providing hunters with the option to have an any sex and species three-duck bag limit gives them an opportunity to get into duck hunting without having to worry about their duck identification skills.
The first tier offered is more traditional with a six-duck limit, including all of the species and sex requirements. The possession limit for Tier I is eighteen ducks. The Tier II option has a bag limit of three ducks of any species or sex. The possession limit for Tier II is three times the daily bag limit, or nine ducks. For either tier, duck hunters are required to still have all the proper permits and stamps required by the state fish and wildlife agency. It is important to note that these tiers do not apply to the goose limits or during the early teal season.
For season dates, more information in the two-tier options, and the necessary permits needed, please check the state’s fish and wildlife agencies websites.
