Nebraska · Dove · 2026 Edition
Nebraska Dove Season 2026: Dates, Bag Limits & Shooting Hours
01 — Seasons
| Season | Zones | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Dove (mourning, white-winged & Eurasian collared) | Statewide | Sep 1 – Oct 30 |
| Eurasian Collared-dove only | Statewide | Jan 1 – Dec 31 |
02 — Bag limits
| Daily | 15 in the aggregate across mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared-doves |
|---|---|
| Possession | 45 in the aggregate |
| Eurasian collared-dove outside the regular season | 15 daily / 45 possession — Nebraska keeps a limit on collared-doves year-round instead of leaving them unlimited |
03 — Shooting hours
Legal light on opening day (September 1, 2026) 06:36 — 20:11
Rule: Thirty minutes before sunrise to sunset (per Nebraska Game and Parks). Sunrise/sunset shift daily — the times above are computed for opening day; use your local Nebraska sun times for any other date.
04 — License & HIP
Dove hunters in Nebraska need a Nebraska hunting license and — because doves are migratory game birds — HIP registration (Harvest Information Program). No federal Duck Stamp is required for doves.
Nebraska hunting license cost →
Where to hunt public land in Nebraska — WMAs by county & access rules →
05 — FAQ
When does dove season open in Nebraska?
The 2026 opener is September 1, 2026. Most states open Sep 1 under the federal migratory bird framework.
When does dove season end in Nebraska?
The latest 2026 closing date is October 30, 2026. Split segments and late seasons vary — see the table above.
Do I need a Duck Stamp to hunt doves?
No. Doves are migratory game birds but the federal Duck Stamp is only required for waterfowl (ducks, geese, brant, swans). Dove hunters need only their state hunting license and HIP registration.
How many doves can you shoot in Nebraska per day?
2026 bag limits: Daily — 15 in the aggregate across mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared-doves. Possession — 45 in the aggregate. Eurasian collared-dove outside the regular season — 15 daily / 45 possession — Nebraska keeps a limit on collared-doves year-round instead of leaving them unlimited. Limits are set per zone and per permit — check the agency's own regulations before you hunt.
What time can you start shooting doves in Nebraska?
On opening day (September 1, 2026) legal light runs 06:36 to 20:11. The rule is: Thirty minutes before sunrise to sunset (per Nebraska Game and Parks). Sunrise and sunset shift daily, so work the offset against your local Nebraska sun times for any other date.
Can I hunt doves on my own land in Nebraska without a license?
Nebraska resident farmers or ranchers, and their immediate family living on land they own or lease, may hunt squirrel, cottontail, jackrabbit, prairie grouse, partridge, pheasant, and quail there without a permit or Habitat Stamp. Deer, antelope, elk, and turkey still need their own landowner permit application.
Verified · Nebraska Game and Parks Commission · Last verified 2026-08-11
Publisher's note. Dates per the NGPC hunting-seasons listing for 2026. One straight 60-day season, no split. Nebraska handles the Eurasian collared-dove differently from most states: it is open year-round, but NGPC still applies the 15/45 aggregate limit to it outside the regular dove season rather than declaring it unlimited — worth knowing before assuming the usual 'invasive species, no limit' rule. The collared-dove row is marked yearRound below so the opener and closing date describe the regular dove season.