Nebraska · UplandNorthern bobwhite quail

Nebraska's quail season (regulated jointly with pheasant and partridge, must be shot while in flight) runs Oct. 31, 2026-Jan. 31, 2027, 6 daily/24 possession, with a youth-only weekend Oct. 24-25. NGPC's own 2026-27 Upland Game Bird Hunting Outlook points to a strong year: a mild winter meant good survival and more birds carried into this year's breeding population, statewide whistle counts came in up vs. 2025 and above both the 5- and 10-year averages, and all management units except Northeast and East-central saw increases. Brood reports were frequent with larger broods, and continued male calling through summer points to renesting attempts. Statewide, the July Rural Mail Carrier Survey came in up 134% vs. 2025 (+13% vs. the 5-year average, +50% vs. the 20-year average). Southeast, East-central, and Republican management regions carry the state's highest quail densities and should see average to above-average populations. One caveat straight from NGPC's own outlook: two regions posted especially steep July RMCS swings, West Platte at +521% and Northeast at +387%, but both sit on the state's own abundance ranks 4 and 6 (of 6), and NGPC's outlook states directly that for low-ranked regions, large percent changes may not translate into noticeable changes in hunting conditions. East Central (rank 1) and Republican (rank 2) remain the more meaningful geography for where quail numbers are actually best this fall.

Statewide bobwhite whistle counts and July Rural Mail Carrier Survey (+134% vs. 2025) both up and above long-term averages, with gains in most management units, per NGPC's own 2026-27 Upland Outlook.