The Flyer: October 2025

Many have questions on how the lapse in federal funding will affect the refuge. Below are the current impacts:

• Stillwater and Fallon NWR’s will be open for waterfowl hunting. Law Enforcement will be on duty. Staff are furloughed and/or only doing work necessary to protect our facilities. HQ and shop will be closed until a budget is passed. Don’t expect answers to phone calls or emails.

• The Grand Opening for our Refuge Headquarters on Saturday, October 4th was cancelled.

Current Conditions: Stillwater NWR

• S, W, N Nutgrass and Goose fully flooded. S Lead mostly flooded, E Lead coming up, and W Marsh may still have a few pockets of water. Last water order is in and we will be trying to bring up S and E Lead with any spillover going into W Marsh.

• There was an unconfirmed report of blue green algae again at Stillwater. We have tested Goose Lake and North Nutgrass and received the results yesterday. Algae was detected, but the detections in both units were “below the recommended EPA thresholds for protecting human health during recreational activities for microcystins and cylindrospermopsin.

Cooler temperatures should further reduce the risk of an outbreak.

Nevada hunters can look forward to another robust waterfowl season, with staggered openers across the state’s three zones and updated bag limits for key species, including Northern pintails. The 2025–2026 season includes special youth hunts, generous overall duck limits, and expanded pintail harvest opportunities following federal regulation changes.

Season Openers by Zone: Regular duck season 2025 are as follows:

• Northeast Zone: Opens Sept. 27, runs through Dec. 2
Reopens Dec. 13 – Jan. 19

• Northwest Zone: Opens Oct. 11, runs through Jan. 4
Reopens Jan. 7 – Jan. 25

• South Zone (Excluding Moapa Valley): Opens Oct. 11 – 19
Reopens Oct. 22 – Jan. 25

• South Zone (Moapa Valley Only): Opens Oct. 25 – Jan. 25

Special youth hunt weekends take place before or after the regular season in each zone, offering hunters under 18 a chance to experience waterfowl hunting with reduced pressure.

Bag Limits & Pintail Regulations

Nevada’s duck daily bag limit remains at seven (7) ducks, but with species-specific sublimits in place. Notably, for the 2025–2026 season, the daily pintail limit has increased to three (3)—a change from previous years, reflecting improved population data and new adaptive harvest strategies implemented by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Daily Duck Limit: 7 ducks (including but no more than):   

• 3 pintails
• 2 mallard hens
• 2 canvasbacks
• 2 redheads   

Possession Limit

Three times the daily bag

License Requirements

Hunters age 16 and older must possess:
• A Nevada hunting license
• A Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp)
• A Nevada HIP number
• Harvested waterfowl must be transported with the head or one fully feathered wing attached, per federal regulation.

Looking Ahead

With strong populations and expanded opportunities, this season presents an ideal time for Nevada hunters to return to wetlands, marshes, and reservoirs. Updated pintail limits offer more flexibility in mixed-species hunts, though species identification and adherence to sublimits remain critical.