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Remaining Nebraska Big Game Permits Now on Sale
Residents and Nonresidents May Purchase Deer Permits.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Nebraska --(AmmoLand.com)- It’s a big game hunter’s second favorite time of year – the time when big game permits go on sale.

Hunters can get an early start on making their fall plans and begin daydreaming about cool, crisp November mornings just as the steamy hot weather of summer hits its stride.

Right now big game hunting in Nebraska is the best it’s ever been.  The state has record populations of deer, turkey and even elk.  Deer and turkey permits are easy to get, and with $5 youth permits for both species available, aspiring young hunters can become part of the trips afield.

Those hunters hoping to harvest something to hang on their wall will be pleased by the fact that the average age of our bucks has increased in recent years, with 30% of the bucks taken in 2009 being age 3 or older.

A new October 2-11 antlerless firearm season has also been added for 60% of the state, with $10 permits for residents and $55 permits for nonresidents. The January firearm antlerless season has also been extended for 9 days.

Archers will be happy to note the minimum draw weight for bows has been removed, and archery equipment can now be used to fill firearm permits.

Another extra perk to deer hunting in Nebraska is the fact that a majority of our deer permits include an antlerless bonus tags. Statewide archery and muzzleloader permits, as well as many firearm units and most season choice units, offer a bonus tag. Enjoy the hunting, but don’t need the extra meat? Our Deer Exchange program is available to help share the venison.

2010 antelope permits are still available to both residents and nonresidents. A limited number of resident landowner elk permits remain as well.

So start making plans and lining up your permits today.  We encourage you to become familiar with the changes noted in the 2010 Big Game Guide, including the new Earn-A-Buck units (Elkhorn and Wahoo Firearm) and the Mule Deer Conservation area.  Click here to purchase your permits

Super Tag Lottery (Nebraska residents only) Also new in 2010 is a Super Tag Lottery that is open to Nebraska residents. The tag includes one permit for elk, antelope and deer, and two permits for turkey (Spring or Fall seasons).

Once-in-a-lifetime bull elk permit holders are eligible to participate in this lottery.

The application period for this tag is open now through July 7, with an application fee of $25. (One entry per person.) The winner will be drawn at the July meeting of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and will have two years (2010 and 2011) to fill the permits.

Click here to enter the Super Tag Lottery in the Big Game Permits section of the permitting system. (After creating your profile, select the “Multi-Species” button. Scroll to find the 2010 Nebraska Resident-Super Tag Lottery-Multi Species option; click the green check-mark button in the “Select” box on the far right-hand side.)

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Peregrine Falcon Chicks Named for Stars in Orion’s Belt

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. – -(AmmoLand.com)- The peregrine falcon chicks hatched atop the Nebraska State Capitol building have been named Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka – after the three bright stars that comprise the belt of the constellation Orion, the Hunter, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission announced Friday, June 25.

Game and Parks conducted its annual contest to name the chicks. The winning entry was submitted by Joan Darling of Lincoln.

“These are the three stars in Orion, the Hunter’s belt, which is such a dominant feature of the Nebraska night sky,” Darling wrote in her entry. “Like Orion, peregrine falcons are mighty hunters in the sky. These chicks also are webcam ‘stars’.”

The three stars of the belt were prominent in ancient timekeeping because they mark the northern night sky when the sun is at its lowest point.

For the record, one male chick (leg band identification 24/C) is Alnitak, one male (25/C) is Alnilam and the female (53/H) is Mintaka.

More than 350 contest entries were received from 12 states. For her winning entry, Darling will receive, among other prizes, a stuffed toy peregrine falcon and a one-year subscription to NEBRASKAland Magazine.

The chicks, which should be taking their first flight soon, may be viewed on Game and Parks’ Falconcam, although they are increasingly moving outside the camera’s field of view.

View the Falconcam at http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/webcam/peregrine/default.asp .

This is the fifth year the peregrine pair has successfully raised young. One chick was raised in 2005, three in ’06, and four in both ’07 and ’09. No chicks were successfully fledged in 2008.

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