The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has announced upland bird hunting prospects for the 2026 season, and there is good news for wingshooters.
At the same time, the Commission announced the ninth annual Upland Slam begins next Tuesday, Sept. 1, challenging hunters to harvest four upland game bird species in a single season. Participants can win prizes from Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, with special drawings for pheasant entries celebrating Nebraska’s 100th pheasant season.
As for hunting prospects, here’s the breakdown:
Upland Bird Hunting
Surveys and field reports point toward an optimistic outlook for Nebraska upland bird hunting seasons this fall.
“Birds survived well into the breeding season due to a mild winter across most of the state,” said Bryan O’Connor, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Timely rains in central and eastern Nebraska have maintained quality habitat, while western Nebraska has been affected by drought.
“It should be an excellent fall to experience upland bird hunting in Nebraska, with opportunities for hunters of all ages across the state.”
Pheasant
Statewide spring pheasant counts increased 11% from 2025 and saw increases in five of six pheasant management regions. Statewide counts also increased 36% during the summer compared to 2025. These results were above five- and 10-year averages.
The Northeast, Panhandle and Southwest pheasant regions should support the highest bird densities this fall. Pheasant counts were good across most of their range, but drought conditions could reduce available hunting cover, with the greatest impacts in the Panhandle.
Northern bobwhite
A mild winter in most of the bobwhite quail range resulted in more birds entering the summer breeding season. Statewide, survey results increased compared to 2025 and were above both the five- and 10-year averages. All regions except the East-Central saw stable or increased numbers.
The Southeast, East-Central and Republican regions support the state’s highest quail densities. However, average to above-average populations are likely across the entire Nebraska quail range.
Prairie grouse
Sharp-tailed grouse and greater prairie-chickens overwintered well in the Southwest and eastern Sandhills and Loess Hills as observations this spring indicate increases from 2025. Quality nesting and brooding habitat were present this year. Habitat quality has been reduced further west in the Sandhills and Panhandle due to drought.
Prairie grouse production was good in the Southwest, eastern Sandhills and Loess Hills. Quality summer habitat and plentiful insects should provide good numbers of birds this fall and — depending on rainfall the remainder of the summer — good hunting cover. Drought has reduced hunting cover in the western Sandhills and Panhandle, where bird numbers may not be as high.
Hunters should be aware the U.S. Department of Agriculture has authorized emergency haying and grazing of Conservation Reserve Program lands in most of Nebraska’s 93 counties due to drought conditions. This could affect hunting opportunities on CRP fields, including some open to public walk-in hunting through Game and Parks’ Open Fields and Waters Program. For more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Emergency Haying and Grazing.”
The Upland Outlook is based on field reports from biologists, surveys of game species abundance, regional habitat trends, and weather conditions. To view the complete outlook, survey results and other hunting information, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/hunt/game/upland.
To find places to hunt, pick up the 2026-27 Nebraska Public Access Atlas at a Game and Parks office or wherever permits are sold. This publication displays all the publicly accessible lands in Nebraska and is available in several online versions at OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-maps/public-access-atlas.
The hunting season for pheasants, quail and partridge is Oct. 31 through Jan. 31, 2027. The prairie grouse season is Sept. 1 through Jan. 31, 2027.
Meanwhile, the annual Upland Slam concept is simple: harvest four upland game bird species in a single season — a sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken, ring-necked pheasant and northern bobwhite quail — in Nebraska. Those who accomplish this will receive an official certificate, a Nebraska Upland Slam pin and epic bragging rights.
As a bonus, celebrate Nebraska’s 100th pheasant season this fall by taking advantage of the state’s unique upland hunting opportunities and excellent access. In honor of the 100th pheasant season, all hunters who submit a pheasant entry in the Upland Slam will be entered into a separate drawing.
All hunters who complete the slam this season are eligible to win prizes donated by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. Hunters who complete the slam and upload their submission form with a photo of their dog at work will receive an official “Top Dog” tag and certificate while supplies last.
The hunting season dates for upland game birds are:
- Sharp-tailed grouse: Sept. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
- Greater prairie-chicken: Sept. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
- Ring-necked pheasant: Oct. 31, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
- Northern bobwhite quail: Oct. 31, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
Hunters, both residents and nonresidents, need a Hunt (small game) Permit and Habitat Stamp. They may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
The first eight years of the Upland Slam have created lasting memories for hunters of all ages from all over the nation. To date, 875 hunters from 30 states have participated. Nebraska residents have made up 78% of participants and 58% of all harvests have occurred on public land.
Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Upland Slam” to find official rules and submit Upland Slam entries.
