Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- A mountain lion unintentionally caught in a foothold trap in Dawes County was tranquilized and released by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on Jan. 27.

The mountain lion, a female kitten weighing approximately 50 pounds, appeared to be in good health. After the release, the kitten followed tracks of an adult mountain lion and another kitten that biologists believe were the mother and a sibling.

The trap had been legally set and the trapper called Game and Parks immediately upon discovering the mountain lion, as required by Game and Parks policy.

High pelt prices for bobcats and an increased effort to trap them may have contributed to the recent incidental captures of mountain lions in Dawes County, according to Sam Wilson, Game and Parks’ carnivore program manager.

“The trapper did the right thing by calling,” Wilson said. “In situations like this, where a mountain lion has not entered a town or come into conflict with people, we may attempt to release it if it can be done safely and the mountain lion is not injured.”

Game and Parks requests fur harvesters immediately contact the agency if a mountain lion incidentally is trapped. Anyone with trail-camera photographs or other evidence of mountain lions should contact the agency at 402-471-0641.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Chronic wasting disease (CWD) in deer has appeared for the first time in Buffalo, Custer and Holt counties, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

There were 1,565 lymph node samples collected from deer taken during the 2011 November firearm deer season, with 26 samples testing positive for CWD.

In addition, samples were taken from 37 culled deer that showed clinical symptoms for CWD, with one male mule deer from Garden County testing positive.

Those symptoms include a rough, emaciated appearance and a lack of fear of humans.

There were a record 51 positives from 3,645 samples in Nebraska in 2010. However, the surveillance effort was reduced in 2011 due to a lack of funds. The 2011 effort focused on central Nebraska, the leading edge of the disease as it spreads from west to east.

Game and Parks confirmed CWD in the state’s deer population in 2000. CWD is a disease that can affect deer and elk and always is fatal to the affected animal. Humans have never been known to contract CWD.

Nebraska Harlan County Lake Area Benefits from Focus on Pheasants Initiative

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- In response to declining pheasant populations statewide, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Harlan County Lake and Pheasants Forever have been working to reverse the trend through the Focus on Pheasants habitat improvement initiative.

The Focus on Pheasants initiative was designed in 2003 to restore high-quality pheasant habitat that benefits hunters. The program also educates landowners and other stakeholders about pheasant habitat needs.

Harlan County Lake property managed by the Corps was included in the program because of its potential for intensive pheasant management based on the size of the area, its high use by pheasant hunters and its history of good pheasant populations.

The lack of high-quality habitat, such as diverse nesting and brood rearing cover, is one of the factors limiting pheasants, quail and other grassland birds. Management activities such as prescribed burning, grassland disking, chemical treatment, grassland interseeding and tree removal are used to address those factors. These practices increase the quality and diversity of grassland plants and benefit many wildlife species.

While an area may be seen as unusable to wildlife due to haying, disking or prescribed burning, this disturbance is temporary. The benefits from resulting increase in diversity will last for many years. By rotating disturbances on a multiyear schedule, resource managers assure that the environment provides the optimal mix of cover types to enhance habitat quality, which should result in an increase of grassland bird populations.

Contact Focus on Pheasants Coordinator Jake Holt at 402-471-5413 to learn more about the program and to learn how landowners can implement these practices.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director Rex Amack today announced his intent to retire in April 2012, at the end of his current term.

Amack’s 24 years at the helm of the 475-employee agency distinguishes him as the longest-serving director in Game and Parks history.

“I am so grateful for the opportunity afforded me by the Commission to serve the citizens of this wonderful state,” Amack said. “It is hard to imagine a more rewarding and meaningful career. After nearly 45 years of service to the Commission, it is time to give another their opportunity of a lifetime.”

Amack thanked Commissioners for instilling in him their trust and lending him their support and friendship. “I also want to acknowledge and thank those who I have been blessed to work shoulder to shoulder with each day. Our employees are results-oriented professionals who work hard to meet the Commission’s mission of stewardship of the state’s fish, wildlife, park and outdoor recreation resources. It has been an extraordinary honor,” he said.

A native of Red Cloud, Neb., Amack began his career with the Commission as a University of Nebraska intern in June 1967 working in the Information and Education department. Upon graduation with a bachelor of arts degree in May 1968, he joined the Commission as a full-time employee in the same department. In collaboration with the Nebraska Educational Television Network, Amack helped develop the Commission’s Outdoor Nebraska television program, which he hosted for several years.

In 1975, Amack was promoted to chief of the Information and Education Division. His responsibilities included overseeing NEBRASKAland Magazine and all Commission publications and broadcast information programs. He made youth education programs a high priority and developed the “Know Nebraska Tours” travel program. In 1980, then Commission Director Gene Mahoney promoted Amack to assistant director for administration. Following Mahoney’s retirement in 1988, the Commissioners appointed Amack to a six-year term as director of the Commission. He was reappointed to successive six-year terms in 1994, 2000 and 2006.

Amack said the development of Eugene T. Mahoney State Park was a significant achievement during his tenure. “Mahoney State Park was the largest capitol development project the Commission has ever undertaken. Gene led the charge with the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation and together they raised the money to build the park. We all pulled together to develop, dedicate and open the park 36 months after Gene’s retirement. The park was dedicated in May 1991.”

Amack also pointed to the development of the Calamus Reservoir Fish Hatchery, the Commission’s second largest capitol development project ever. The hatchery was completed and dedicated in September 1991.

Amack said other Commission achievements that stand out during his tenure as director include:

• –Bighorn sheep project
• – Ongoing elk hunting opportunities
• – Strong wild turkey and deer populations
• – $5 youth turkey and deer permits
• – Development of Smith Falls State Park on the Niobrara River
• – Fish and wildlife instream flow rights on portions of the Platte River
• –Development of Internet permit and information services
• – Ponca State Park makeover
• – Cornhusker Trap Shoot
• – Open Fields and Waters hunting and fishing access program
• –Recruitment, Development and Retention Program for youth
• –Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program

Amack also has been immersed in conservation and parkland issues on regional and national platforms. He has twice served as president of the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and has served as president of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Amack is currently president-elect of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

Regarding his retirement plans, Amack said, “The first thing I plan to do is plant a tree at my home that will stand as a constant reminder to stay involved and contribute when and where I can to wildlife conservation, wild spaces and parklands. Growing up on a farm on the banks of the Republican River near Red Cloud, my father taught me that we have a responsibility to care for our land, water, wildlife and all other natural resources for future generations. That was his legacy, and I hope it is mine.”

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Seven people were cited for game law violations in a joint effort by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) to catch spotlighters in the St. Paul area over the weekend.

An NSP airplane using heat-detecting equipment discovered individuals in three vehicles and guided five Game and Parks conservation officers on the ground from 8:30 p.m. Nov. 18 until 12:30 a.m. Nov. 19.

All seven individuals were ticketed for hunting with the aid of an artificial light. Two of those also were cited for no fur harvest permits, one for failure to tag his traps, and one for liquidated damages on a raccoon.

More than $2,000 in fines was assessed, in addition to liquidated damages of $25 for the raccoon.

Jerry Pecha, a Game and Parks law enforcement supervisor, said the project was carried out during the November firearm deer season to increase the possibility of catching deer spotlighters in response to many complaints in the area.

A similar project is planned for the future, Pecha said.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- A 15-year-old deer hunter from Wayne killed a mountain lion near Creighton in northeast Nebraska on Nov. 12, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The boy, hunting a shelterbelt in Knox County, spotted the mountain lion 10 feet away before shooting and killing it.

The mountain lion was a young male, which has been typical of mountain lions found in Nebraska outside of the Panhandle, according to Sam Wilson, furbearer and carnivore program manager with Game and Parks. The carcass was turned over to Game and Parks, as required by law.

It was the 52nd confirmed mountain lion sighting in Nebraska outside the Pine Ridge population since 1991.

Mountain lions are protected year-round in Nebraska but may be killed if threatening people or attacking livestock. No charges will be filed, as evidence indicated self-defense.

“Game and Parks is interested in documenting observations or game camera photographs of mountain lions,” Wilson said. “Please report any observations to your nearest Game and Parks office or call 402-471-0641.”

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Remaining Permits On Sale July 11. Bighorn and Super Tag Lotteries Now Open. Landowner Elk permits Are Included in Draw Application Period.

The calendar says May, and your hand may be holding a fishing pole, but it’s time for some advance thinking about your fall hunting activities.

Nebraska residents may currently apply for: one deer permit in any draw unit (Republican Whitetail, Republican Mule Deer and Desoto December Muzzleloader season units), one elk permit, and one buck or either-sex antelope permit in available units. (One application is allowed per person per species.)

Landowners interested in elk permits should contact their district Nebraska Game and Parks office for application forms at this time.

In addition, two big game lotteries are presently underway for Nebraska hunters: a Bighorn Sheep Lottery and a Super Tag Lottery. Both lotteries are open to Nebraska residents only, have a $25 application fee and can be entered online.

The winner of the bighorn sheep lottery will receive a historic hunt for a bighorn ram in the rugged Pine Ridge, with four nights lodging and guide service provided by Nebraska Game and Parks. The recipient of the Super Tag lottery wins a permit with a bag limit of one elk, one antelope, one deer and two turkeys. This permit is valid during 2011 and 2012, meaning the winner has two years for fill it. Once-in-a-lifetime bull elk permit holders are eligible to participate in this lottery.

Both resident and nonresident hunters will want to mark July 11 on their calendars; it’s the day when all remaining permits go on sale. A complete list of opening dates and application periods can be found on our website, and our 2011 Big Game Guide will be posted there as soon as it becomes available.

Hunters in search of big game animals will find that Nebraska’s populations and hunting opportunities are about the best they have ever been in modern times. Record numbers of deer and turkey exist throughout the state, and even our elk population is thriving. Permits for deer and turkey are easy to obtain, and our $5 youth permits make hunting affordable for aspiring young hunters.

According the staff biologists, the 20-year trend of increasing numbers of older bucks should continue in 2011. Data from 2010 indicates that 75% of harvested whitetail bucks and 83% of harvest mule deer bucks were age 2 or older.

Thousands of acres of private land have also been opened up for hunting through our Open Fields and Waters program, which provides incentives to landowners in return for opening up areas of good habitat to public hunting and fishing use. These lands will be included in the 2011 Public Access Atlas, which is generally available in August each year.

So as you are reeling in that largemouth or casting for walleye, be thinking about all the great ways you can extend your adventures in the Nebraska outdoors. We are here to help you with that, so visit our website for frequent updates or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. And as always – we’ll See You Out There!

Click here to buy your permits online.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

DONIPHAN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Sophomore Aaron Lafler of Lincoln Pius shot a perfect 100 to take the individual crown in the 16-yard targets of the senior high division at the 42nd Cornhusker Trapshoot on Friday.

Lafler, 15, accomplished his feat despite gusting winds that came and went. He said timing was everything.

“I just got lucky,” he said. “I’ve shot 100 straight before. This really isn’t as abnormal as you think, but these aren’t the greatest conditions, either. You’ve got to shoot quicker.”

Jacqueline Baude of Papillion-LaVista South won the girls’ individual title, but she and fellow seniors Melissa Harnack, Taylor Holzer, Marisa Braddock won their fourth straight girls’ team title.

Baude said her 96X100 in the 16s was a byproduct of teamwork. “We’ve always had a mentality of team first,” she said. “We just keep plugging along.”

It’s a good thing. The Lady Titans No. 1 team that also included freshman Bailey Kustka needed to plug along. “We didn’t get off to the best start but closed out really well,” Baude said. “We missed the first two or three birds out, then started to get used to the wind. We did a lot better in the second 50 (rocks) than the first 50.”

The team finished with a 432X500.

The Cornhusker Trapshoot, held at the Nebraska Trapshooting Association (NTA) home grounds, concluded this past Saturday with senior high handicap competition and the presentation of the Cornhusker Cup to the overall winner.

There are 1,216 shooters competing in the senior high division.

The Cornhusker Trapshoot is hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the NTA.

Friday’s results in the 16-yard competition are:

• Top 10 Individuals – 1. Aaron Lafler, Lincoln Pius, 100X100; 2. Cody Newlun, Hastings 4-H, 97X100; 3. Caleb Goedeken, Thayer Central, 97X100; 4. Mitch Cassels, Omaha Creighton Prep, 96X100; 5. Matthew Fero, Grand Island, 96X100; 6. Tyler Merry, Norris, 96X100; 7. Logan Ritz, Stanton 4-H, 96X100; 8. Grant Rogers, Wilber-Clatonia 4-H, 96X100; 9. James Vasko, Omaha Creighton Prep, 96X100; 10. Nick Yardley, Gordon-Rushville, 96X100.
• Top Three Girls – 1. Jacqueline Baude, Papillion-LaVista South, 96X100; 2. Becky Wessel, Stanton 4-H, 95X100; 3. Mavis Morgan, Lincoln Southwest, 95X100.
• Top Three 4-H Teams – 1. Republican Valley No. 1 (Eli VanBoening, Shane Kohmetsher, Trenton Jordening, Blake Brumbaugh, Kelly Faimon), 448X500; 2. Karp and Krow No. 1, 440X500; 3. Red Cloud No. 1, 434X500.
• Top Three Girls Teams – 1. Papillion-LaVista Lady Titans No. 1 (Melissa Harnack, Taylor Holzer, Bailey Kustka, Marisa Braddock, Jacqueline Baude), 432X500; 2. Lincoln Southwest Pink, 430X500; 3. Omaha Marian Blue, 400X500.
• Top Six Teams – 1. Omaha Creighton Prep Blue (Mitch Cassels, Ryan Glow, James Vasko, Nick Zuerlin, Mark Stockdale), 460X500; 2. Lincoln Southwest Gold, 457X500; 3. Norris No. 1, 454X500; 4. Papillion-LaVista Titan No. 1, 452X500; 5. Papillion-LaVista Titan No. 2, 450X500; 6. Crete Red, 450X500.

Jim Carlisle Memorial Second Generation Individual (traveling trophy) – Aaron Lafler, Lincoln Pius

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

DONIPHAN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Cory Sorahan of Grand Island had a painful introduction to shooting sports. On the other hand, she was just a fourth-grader and the shotgun she shot packed a wallop.

From that experience at Walnut Junior High’s outdoor field day, Sorahan took to shooting sports, despite her first impression. “I was done; it hurt so badly,” she said of her first experience. “But I knew it wouldn’t be like that all the time.”

“She told me she wanted to shoot those orange things,” said her aunt, Michelle Sorahan, with whom Cory lives. “I said ‘You mean blue rocks?’ She said, ‘No, they are orange.’ “

Now the 15-year-old sophomore is a veteran in her fifth season competing at the 42nd Cornhusker Trapshoot. On Friday she shot an 87X100 at 16-yard targets during competition in the senior high division.

Her squad on Friday included four boys. She is used to competing with boys.

“She irritates the boys,” said Jack Wiese, a Ducks Unlimited member from Grand Island and the person who taught Sorahan how to shoot.

Wiese taught Sorahan how to shoot with the discipline he learned as a decorated member of the U.S. Marine Corps. “She has natural talent,” he said. “She doesn’t have any bad habits. She just doesn’t miss.”

Sorahan didn’t miss much last year when she finished second in the 20-21 yard individual handicap division at the Cornhusker Trapshoot.

On that night back in the fourth grade, Sorahan won in a drawing a membership into the Ducks Unlimited Green Wings program for youth shooters. That’s when Wiese took her under his wing.

Sorahan didn’t care that there were few girls her age shooting. “It’s something a lot of girls didn’t do at the time, so it was something, like the boys, I could do,” she said.

“It’s not about winning; it’s about shooting against people and making them think they have to be better than you.”

Sorahan has a lifetime of trapshooting to look forward to now.

“That’s another reason that I like to shoot trap,” she said. “You can’t play basketball your whole life, but you can shoot your whole life.”

And at least two more Cornhusker Trapshoots.

“Boys and girls of all ages are taking up shooting sports as a hobby,” Shoot Director Terry Brentzel said. “It is getting easier to do that, too, because there are so many opportunities available to get started. There are hunter education courses, live-fire programs, school programs, and mentored hunts available, as well as a number of excellent shooting ranges.”

Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for more information on learning how to shoot.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Turkey hunters gave it their best shot when the shotgun season opened April 16. Results were mixed, though, as the season opened on the heels of a spring storm that brought snow, rain and muddy and impassable roads across much of the state.

While access to hunting grounds was difficult to reach in much of the state, the weather improved once the season started.

Hunting pressure and success varied overall, according to reports by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers. In many cases, turkeys were not coming to the call, and they still were in groups. Few problems and no accidents were reported.

With plenty of turkeys available, hunters will have many opportunities to bag their limit this season. Hunters, including archers and youth, may hunt turkeys through May 31.

The following is a district summary of reports by officers:

• Southwest – Officers in the eastern portion of the district reported observing fewer hunters than in past openers. Many of the hunters who braved the sloppy roads were rewarded with a turkey. One officer checked 19 hunters with 11 turkeys. Most of the hunters were on or near Pressey Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Custer County. Those hunters represented seven states. Medicine Creek WMA in Frontier County had several hunters on the second day but limited success. Hunting pressure was fair and harvest slow throughout the rest of the district.
• Northeast – Much of the district had 4 to 6 inches of snow on the ground on opening morning. Good numbers of turkeys were observed, but they were inactive until temperatures rose in the afternoon. Hunting pressure was light in the areas of Niobrara, Santee and Verdigre. Nonresident hunters from Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and Mississippi were checked. Hunters had better success on the second day.
• Northwest – Officers reported normal hunting pressure and fair success. Hunters saw plenty of birds. One officer checked 15 hunters – all nonresidents – on Clear Creek WMA on the opening day. Many nonresident hunters also were reported in the Pine Ridge.
• Southeast – There were few reports from this district but one noted few hunters in the field along the Platte River in Saunders, Douglas and Sarpy counties on April 17.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- It is the shotgunners’ turn to take to the woods when the spring shotgun turkey hunting season opens April 16. Hunters are expected to harvest good numbers of turkeys from the state’s ample population.

Archers have been hunting since March 25 and youth shotgunners since April 9. All spring turkey seasons close May 31.

Permits are $24 for Nebraska residents, $91 for nonresidents, and $6 for youth. They may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

A spring turkey permit is valid statewide and allows the harvest of turkeys with archery equipment during the archery season or with a shotgun during the shotgun season. Legal shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset and the bag limit is one male or bearded female turkey per permit. No hunter may have more than three spring turkey permits in a calendar year.

Youth permits are for those under the age of 16.

“The $6 youth permit is an affordable way to introduce children to a lifelong enjoyment of the sport and of the outdoors,” said Jeff Lusk, Game and Parks upland game program manager. “It was extremely popular in 2010, and we hope to see its popularity continue to grow.”

Another good season of turkey hunting is expected. In 2010, 24,182 turkeys were harvested during the spring, including 2,912 by youth. There were 30,693 spring turkey permits sold last year, as well as 6,210 youth permits. Youth permit sales had increased 124 percent from the year before.

The overall success rate for spring turkey hunters harvesting at least one turkey was 66.8 percent last year. The rate was 69.3 percent for regular permit holders and 46.9 for youth.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- The Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners on Friday voted to expand the grouse-hunting season starting in 2011.

This year’s grouse season will be Sept. 1 through Jan. 31, 2012. Regulations previously called for the season to open on the Saturday nearest Sept. 15.

By making the change, Game and Parks is providing more hunting opportunity for a lightly hunted species and is aligning the dove and grouse season openers on a common date.

The board also approved a revised Focus on Pheasants plan. The plan seeks to create new focus areas and incentive programs to promote habitat improvements and to work with biologists to maximize effectiveness of habitat program delivery within those areas.

Also, the plan hopes to continue researching the amount of habitat needed to establish and maintain a huntable pheasant population, and it will try to secure more pheasant habitat through U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs.

Commissioners also approved the funding of $254,383.60 for eight grants through the State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program, which addresses the needs of declining fish and wildlife populations. Game and Parks allocates part of its annual SWG funding, distributed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, to other conservation entities on a competitive basis, with awardees required to provide a one-to-one match. The awarded projects must be deemed a priority in assisting Game and Parks in implementing the Nebraska Natural Legacy Plan.

In other action, the board approved:

• Six grant applications for $658,350 in federal funding from the 2011 Recreational Trails Program (RTP) apportionment. The funds will be used by Game and Parks to administer the RTP and for educational projects, for trail signage by the City of Wayne, trail construction by the City of Deshler, Game and Parks’ renovation of the Cowboy Trail near Norfolk, and renovation of the Bison Trail by the City of Lincoln.
• Rankings of two 2011 Land and Water Conservation Fund grant applications totaling $90,000. Final approval would come from the National Park Service. Projects include a park renovation by the City of Bellevue and a swimming pool renovation by the Village of Hildreth.
• An easement to the Rural Healthcare Network of Nebraska at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area for designing and building a fiber optic network that will connect several hospitals and healthcare clinics and provide technology and capabilities to the hospitals and residents of rural Nebraska.
• Changes to the policy and procedures of the Nebraska Hunter and Bow Hunter Education programs.
• The relocation of 100 black-tailed prairie dogs from Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge to Hutton Niobrara Ranch Wildlife Sanctuary in Rock County.
• Elected Mick Jensen, Chairman; Ron Stave, Vice Chairman; and Norris Marshall, 2nd Vice Chairman.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Eight hunting-related incidents were reported to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 2010, including one that resulted in a death.

Of the incidents, two involved the discharge of a rifle, two involved the discharge of a shotgun, two involved the discharge of a muzzleloader, and one each involved the discharge of a handgun and a fall from an elevated stand.

Injuries were self-inflicted in five incidents and caused by someone else in three.

In four incidents, the cause was careless handling of a firearm and in one each the cause was victim covered by shooter swinging on game, victim in line of fire, dropped firearm, and fall from an elevated stand.

“All of these incidents were preventable,” said Mike Streeter, Nebraska hunter education coordinator.

In the fatal incident last October in Washington County, the 14-year-old shooter was following the 38-year-old victim down a trail. The shooter was carrying a loaded, capped, cocked muzzleloader as he crossed a log. The muzzleloader discharged into the victim’s back.

Hunting incidents resulting in injury or death are rare in Nebraska. The injury rate per 1,000 hunters commonly is lower than .01 percent. Nebraska has about 170,000 hunters each year, and, over the past 10 years, there have been nearly 12 incidents a year. There were 12 incidents, including two fatalities, in 2009.

“Hunting safety is a concern for everyone and Nebraska hunters do an excellent job of ensuring safety each year,” Streeter said. “Safe hunting is no accident. Follow the rules of safe hunting and enjoy the great outdoors in Nebraska.”

For a list of available hunter education classes in Nebraska or to view a full report on the Nebraska 2010 Hunting Incident Report, visit huntsafenebraska.org.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Waterfowl hunters are invited to give their input on possible boundary changes to duck zones and goose units, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Hunters have two options for giving input: attend one of several public meetings around the state or download a survey from www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting.asp.

“It’s an opportunity to gather some input and see if there are changes out there that guys want to see made,” said Mark Vrtiska, Game and Parks waterfowl program manager.

“If you don’t want a change, that’s just as important as if you do want a change, so I need to have that input as well.”

In accordance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service rules, boundary changes may be made every five years. Any changes would be in effect for the 2011-2012 waterfowl hunting seasons.

The following is a list of the public meetings, all starting at 7 p.m.:

• Jan. 10 – Lincoln, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission headquarters, 2200 N. 33rd St.
• Jan. 11 – Omaha, Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District office, 8901 St. 154th St.
• Jan. 12 – Auburn, Nemaha County Fairgrounds 4-H building, 816 I St.
• Jan. 13 – Columbus, Izaak Walton League, 3521 9th St. South
• Jan. 17 – Alma, Johnson Community Center, 509 Main St.
• Jan. 18 – Bridgeport, Prairie Winds Center, 428 N. Main St.
• Jan. 24 – Valentine, Niobrara Lodge, 803 E. U.S. Highway 20
• Jan. 25 – O’Neill, Cubby’s Godfather’s Pizza Express, 204 E. U.S. Highway 20
• Jan. 26 – Albion, Cornerstone Bank, 240 S. 3rd St.
• Jan. 27 – Ponca, Ponca State Park, 88090 Spur 26E
• Jan. 31 – Kearney, Mitzi’s Pavilion at Yanney Heritage Park, 2020 W. 11th St.
• Feb. 1 – North Platte, North Platte Police Department, 715 S. Jeffers.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- James N. Douglas has been named deputy director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission by Director Rex Amack. Douglas has served the agency as administrator of the Wildlife Division since 1994.

“Jim Douglas has demonstrated outstanding skills in planning, administration, personnel management, and budgeting,” Amack said.

“He has broad-based experiences and proven abilities to effectively interact with the Board of Commissioners, staff, governmental entities, and conservation partners in working to meet the Commission’s mission.”

Amack said Douglas’ appointment to the newly created position is effective immediately.

“I look forward to working with Director Amack, our commissioners, staff, and partners to meet the many complex challenges that face our agency in managing Nebraska’s wildlife and parkland resources,” said Douglas, who has a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Biology and a Master of Arts in Management.

Douglas has served the agency in various capacities since beginning with Game and Parks’ Fisheries Division in 1974.

Deer Hunting Now Better than the Good Ol' Days

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Nebraska’s November firearm deer harvest set a record this fall, rising 18 percent over last year, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The 2010 November firearm deer harvest was 63,300, compared to 53,767 in 2009. Most of the increase is from antlerless white-tailed deer harvest, as 21,000 bonus antlerless white-tailed deer tags were added this year.

Good weather benefited hunters and farmers as the corn harvest was nearly complete at the start of the November firearm season, compared to 2009 when more than half of the crop was still in the field at the start of the season.

The following are harvest figures for each region of the state, with the percentage increase from 2009:

• Panhandle (District I) – 6,580, 9 percent
• north-central (District II) – 11,885, 13 percent
• northeast (District III) – 13,791, 32 percent
• southwest (District IV) – 7,042, 20 percent
• southeast (District V) – 13,709, 11 percent
• south-central (District VI) – 10,325, 13 percent

“This is a good step toward our goal of a 25-percent reduction in the deer herd in eastern Nebraska over the next 3 years,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager for Game and Parks.

“The use of Earn-a-Buck rules on Elkhorn and Wahoo permits and the October firearm antlerless season (3,000 deer harvested) in 2010 have both been successful in increasing doe harvest.”

Earn-a-Buck rules required hunters to check in an antlerless deer before or at the same time they checked a buck.

Assuming normal harvest rates during archery, muzzleloader and January antlerless seasons, hunters should harvest about 90,000 deer in Nebraska for the 2010 seasons, compared to the previous record of 80,400 in 2008 and 78,000 last year.

Nebraska has enjoyed excellent deer hunting the past three years, with record harvest numbers and record deer. A state record nontypical white-tailed deer was taken last year in Richardson County. A potential state record typical white-tailed deer was harvested this November north of Seward.

Nebraska Pheasant Season Opens Oct. 30

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(Ammoland.com)- Pheasant hunting season opens across the state on Oct. 30, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Pheasant abundance appears to be high in southwest Nebraska, according to Game and Parks’ 2010 Upland Game Hunting Outlook. Combined with public access, this region should offer excellent pheasant hunting opportunities. The outlook is based on surveys and input from biologists and staff.

According to the outlook, the abundance of pheasants in Nebraska this year is highest in the southwest, followed by the Sandhills, central, northeast, Panhandle, and southeast regions. Overall, the abundance statewide is slightly lower than in 2009.

Pheasant season is an excellent opportunity for experienced hunters to introduce the activity to a person who never has hunted or reintroduce it to someone who has not hunted in many years.

The pheasant season ends Jan. 31, 2011. Only rooster pheasants may be taken. The daily bag limit is three birds and the possession limit is 12.

The quail and partridge seasons also are Oct. 30-Jan. 31.

All upland bird hunters, except for residents under age 16, are required to have a Nebraska hunting license and a habitat stamp. An annual permit costs $14 for residents and $81 for nonresidents. The annual habitat stamp is $20.

Hunters should review the 2010 Nebraska Public Access Atlas, which includes Conservation Reserve Program-Management Access Program lands, as well as Open Fields and Waters program lands, and other public hunting lands.

Permits and stamps may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Good news for Nebraska grouse hunters this fall. The hunting season for this upland game species will be a month longer than in past years.

Grouse hunting season opens in Nebraska on Sept. 18 and runs through Jan. 31, 2011. This aligns the season with the close of pheasant and quail seasons and allows more opportunities for late-season mixed bag hunting of all three species.

Grouse may be hunted statewide, but a free special permit is required for hunting east of U.S. Highway 81 (east zone).

Approximately 90 special permits remain for hunting in the east zone. They are limited to one per hunter and available on a first-come, first-served basis. To request a special permit, call Game and Parks at (402) 471-5597, visit the Lincoln headquarters, or send a postcard to: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Attn: Grouse Permits, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503.

The postcard must include the following: name, address, date of birth, telephone number, and 2010 hunting permit number or lifetime hunting permit number. Residents ages 12 to 15 must submit a hunter education number. Those not required to purchase a hunting permit must provide documentation of such exemption.

The daily bag and possession limits in the east zone are three birds. The daily bag and possession limits west of U.S. 81 (west zone) are three and 12, respectively.

A Nebraska hunting permit and habitat stamp are required of all grouse hunters in the state, except residents younger than 16 years.

Nebraska hunting permits and stamps may be purchased at Game and Parks offices and OutdoorNebraska.org.

Nebraska Fall Turkey Season Opens Sept. 15

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Fall turkey season opens Sept. 15 across Nebraska, and hunters of all ages have the opportunity to pursue the abundant gobblers.

Getting new hunters into the field could be even easier this year, however, as reduced-price permits are available for youth.

Fall turkey permits are $24 for residents, $91 for nonresidents and $6 for youth younger than 16 years (residents and nonresidents), including issuing fee. The reduced-price youth permits were a big success during the spring turkey season, when youth permit sales more than doubled from the previous spring.

Adult and youth hunters may shoot turkeys through Dec. 31 with either archery equipment or shotgun. A fall turkey or youth fall turkey permit allows the take of two turkeys with either archery equipment or shotgun. Permits are unlimited in number, but no hunter may have more than two fall turkey permits.

The bag limit is two turkeys per permit.

Turkey hunters are required to wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange on their head, chest and back when hunting during the November firearm deer season, which is Nov. 13-21.

Nebraska Fall Turkey Season Guide

Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Nebraska Deer Exchange Available Again in 2010

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Hunters again will be able to provide deer meat to anyone willing to accept it, thanks to a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission program.

Nebraska has an ample deer population, as well as many hunting opportunities. The Deer Exchange is designed to accommodate the additional harvest of deer. Hunters who have filled their freezers may still bag a deer and have somewhere to take the meat.

Deer Exchange participants may register by visiting OutdoorNebraska.org, and then selecting Hunting, Programs, and then the Deer Exchange Program link.

Here is how the free program, which runs through March 1, 2011, works: Donors and recipients of deer meat register, search a database for participants in their area, and then make contact by telephone to set up the transfer of deer meat. Deer meat may not be sold.

The recipient may accept field dressed deer, skinned and boned deer, or wrapped and frozen deer meat. The donor is responsible for properly field dressing and checking the deer before transfer.

Game and Parks is not responsible for the quality of the meat or failure of the donor or recipient to follow through with the transfer. The agency provides the necessary transfer cards online.

Other benefits of the program include:

• Venison is a good source of protein in a diet.
• The interaction increases communication between hunters and nonhunters.
• Opportunities exist to recruit new hunters.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(Ammoland.com)- The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is using a new online tool designed to increase hunter access to land where landowners seek more antlerless deer hunters.

The Antlerless Deer Hunter Program allows hunters to register online and landowners to scan the database for hunters in their area, then contact them by telephone or e-mail.

This program is available at OutdoorNebraska.org. Click on Hunting, Programs and then Antlerless Deer Hunter Program to access it, or go directly to http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/programs.asp.

“We hear from many hunters who have difficulty finding land to hunt,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager with Game and Parks.

“We also hear from landowners who say hunters only want to shoot bucks or they do not feel comfortable telling hunters to shoot does. This program has the potential to address both problems with a mutually beneficial solution.”

Hunters provide the following when they register: name, address, telephone number, e-mail address, counties and months in which they are willing to hunt, preferred weapons, and the number of deer they want to harvest.

Landowners search the database by county and can see the hunters’ first name, contact information and hunting preferences (county, month, weapon).

“With 136 days of deer seasons and 250,000 permits and bonus tags that allow antlerless deer harvest, we have more than enough days and permits to control deer herds,” Hams said. “This is one more tool to help.”

Nebraska Dove Hunting Season Begins Sept. 1

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(Ammoland.com)- Dove hunting season begins soon, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has reminders for hunters of these migratory birds.

• Hunting Season – Doves may be hunted statewide. The season is Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, with daily bag and possession limits of 15 and 30, respectively. Bag limits are for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared doves in aggregate. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset.

Game and Parks’ board of commissioners will consider at its Aug. 31 meeting a proposal to extend the hunting season of Eurasian collared doves to year-round.

• Requirements – Nebraska residents 16 years and older and all nonresidents are required to have a 2010 Nebraska hunting permit, a habitat stamp and a 2010 Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Register at nehip.com or call toll-free (877) NEHUNTS. A federal migratory bird stamp is not required.
• Banding – Hunters who find a band on a dove should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service banding office toll-free at (800) 327-BAND or report it at reportband.gov.
• Wing study – Some hunters will be asked to save a wing from each dove during the first week of the season and mail the wings postage-free to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Hunters using public areas also may be asked to provide dove wings on-site as part of the monitoring effort. Data from the wings will be used to estimate annual productivity of the dove population.
• Scouting – Hunters should get out into the field and scout many potential hunting sites.

Jeff Lusk, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, says sunflower, millet and wheat fields have been planted at several wildlife management areas (WMA) across the state. Planting and weather conditions may have reduced seed production in some plots.

Go to http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/guides/upland_game/Dove/pdf/2010%20Mourning%20Dove%20Hunting%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf to view the 2010 Mourning Dove Hunting Fact Sheet. The sheet includes a list of wildlife management areas that should provide good hunting opportunities.

Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

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.)

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.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(AmmoLand.com)- The public is invited to attend the free Nebraska Outdoor Expo on May 15 at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The fourth annual expo, open from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., is designed to meet the needs of anyone interested in outdoor lifestyles, regardless of age or experience, through a variety of hands-on activities, demonstrations and interactive displays.

New attractions in 2010 include nationally known hunting experts, hands-on bow fishing, youth Discovery Zone, and a Marketplace showcasing outdoor-related vendors and exhibitors.

Visit http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/outdoorsexpo/ for more information. A park entry permit is required for the event.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Nebraska --(AmmoLand.com)- Here in Nebraska, the hills are alive…..with the sound of turkeys!

And so are the valleys, fields, pastures and every place in between for that matter.

It’s spring in Nebraska and Tom Turkey is king of the outdoors!

In case visions of deer, pheasant and waterfowl are still on your mind, we thought we’d give you a quick list of 10 reasons why you should be hunting turkeys in Nebraska right now:

It's Time to Talk Turkey!

Strength in Numbers. Wants lots of opportunity to hunt? Then you want a place with lots of birds – and that place would be Nebraska! Our turkey population has absolutely exploded in recent years, with triple digit populations gains in almost every area of the state.

Location, Location, Location! Turkeys can be found all across the state, in every county and region. River drainage areas boast some of the highest density of turkeys, but the breakup of flocks and spring mating season mean that toms are on the move and looking for love.

The Season is Long. Archery season is already underway and the regular shotgun season opens April 17. Both run through May 31 (Memorial Day), so you have time to enjoy multiple hunting trips. Click here for details.

$5 Permits for Those 15 and Under. Got a budding hunter at home? Bring them along! Nebraska’s unique combination of no minimum age for turkey hunters and $5 youth turkey tags makes it easy to provide some great ‘first hunt’ opportunities for aspiring young hunters. To learn more, click here.

Getting a Permit is Easy. Permits are available online 24/7, are valid statewide, and you can have up to three of them. What could be simpler?

Archery or Shotgun – Your Choice. You can use either weapon to fill your permit, without having to specify it ahead of time.

Three Subspecies to Hunt. Nebraska is home to Merriam’s in the western Pine Ridge, Rio Grande in the southern sections of the state and the Eastern subspecies in the east and central regions. Three subspecies and three permits per hunter…..no coincidence there!

We Can Jumpstart Your Hunt. Our website is a great source of information on public hunting lands, places to stay, hunting regulations, outfitters or other information to plan your hunting trip.

The Odds Are Good. A record 22,000 turkeys were harvested last spring, with shotgun success rates of 68% and archery success rates of 48%, both among the highest in the nation.

The Fun Factor. Whether it’s calling in a big tom, seeing a youngster bag their first bird or watching the woods wake up in the morning, nothing beats being outdoors. Whatever you like most, you can experience it here.

So what are you waiting for? The gobbling has started! Get your gear, your favorite call and head for Nebraska. And those visions of deer, pheasant and waterfowl? Hold on to ‘em – fall will be here before you know it.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(AmmoLand.com)- A turkey hunting seminar is scheduled for April 14 at the Lincoln Izaak Walton League, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The 6 p.m. event is open to the first 100 registrants.

Before the seminar, participants may pattern their shotgun and tune up their turkey calls from 4:30-6 p.m. They should bring their shotgun, at least five rounds of their favorite turkey load and their favorite turkey call.

Turkey hunting season begins March 25 for archers and youth archers.

To register, contact Heather Weihe at heather.weihe@nebraska.gov.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Hunters under age 16 may take advantage of the new $5 youth turkey permits when the season opens March 25, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The season opens April 17 for shotgunners and April 10 for youth shotgunners. All spring turkey seasons close May 31.

In the past, youth hunters paid the same price as adults for a turkey permit. The new low-cost permits are designed to attract more youth to turkey hunting. The youth permits are for hunters under age 16 on the opening day of the youth archery season. All turkey hunters, except residents under age 16, require a Nebraska Habitat Stamp.

The 2010 permit prices, not including issuing fees, are: resident turkey, $23; resident youth turkey, $5; nonresident turkey, $90; and nonresident youth turkey, $5.

There is another permit change for 2010. In the past, spring hunters who wanted to hunt turkeys with a bow and shotgun had to purchase separate archery and shotguns permits. Those hunters now need just a single turkey permit, which allows taking turkeys with a bow in the archery season and a shotgun in the shotgun season.

Also new for 2010, restrictions on draw weight of archery equipment have been lifted.

A hunter still may have up to three spring turkey permits. The bag limit is one male or bearded female turkey per permit.

Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb --(AmmoLand.com)- The Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners on Friday adopted regulations designed to increase the harvest of antlerless white-tailed deer in 2010.

A record deer harvest was expected in 2009, but a late crop harvest, a cold winter with record snowfall and low interest in the October Antlerless season resulted in an antlerless white-tailed deer harvest that fell below objectives.

In 2009, 29,711 antlerless whitetails were harvested. The goal for this year is 42,000.

Commission deer management goals are to reduce white-tailed deer populations, especially in eastern Nebraska, and along the major river corridors, and to allow mule deer populations to increase in eastern and southwestern mule deer units.

Among the deer regulations the board adopted at its regular meeting in Lincoln are:

• Expanding the October Antlerless season – The season is lengthened from three days to 10, and the hunting area is expanded. The hunting area includes land in the following Season Choice Areas: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 River, 11, 12, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22. An unlimited number of permits, which allow the harvest of two antlerless whitetails each, will cost $10 for residents, $54 for nonresidents. Hunter orange no longer is required of archers during the October Antlerless season, but the requirement remains in place for firearm hunters.
• Earn-a-Buck – This tool, designed to increase doe harvest, requires hunters with Elkhorn and Wahoo unit November firearm permits to check in a doe before or at the same time as they check in a buck. The November firearm season will be extended two days for hunters in these units.
• Mule Deer Conservation Area – The area is comprised of the Buffalo, Frenchman, Republican, and Platte units. The only hunters who may harvest a mule deer buck are youth, landowners and those with the new Republican mule deer buck, Buffalo, Platte, or Frenchman permits. These permits allow harvest in archery, muzzleloader and November firearms seasons. Restricted statewide buck, archery and muzzleloader permits will not be valid for mule deer bucks in the Mule Deer Conservation Area.
• Establishing new Season Choice Areas – The following Season Choice Areas are established within existing areas: SCA 8 West, SCA 9 North, SCA 9 River, SCA 17 White River, SCA 24 River, and SCA 25 North. These are intended to allow for additional pressure on white-tailed deer in riparian areas and to allow for mule deer doe harvest where needed.
• Expanding January late antlerless season – The season is lengthened from 15 to 24 days and begins Dec. 26. Hunter orange is required for archers.
• Using bow with firearm permits – Archery equipment will be allowed as a legal weapon on firearm permits in November and January. Hunter orange is required.
• Establishing new Statewide Whitetail Buck permit – This permit will be unlimited in number and valid in archery, muzzleloader and November firearm seasons. The bag limit will be one whitetail buck and one antlerless whitetail. The permit price is $72.50 for residents, $521 for nonresidents.

More permits available – An additional 45,000 antlerless permits and bonus tags will be available statewide.

Regulation changes to antelope hunting include increasing the landowner quotas from 20 percent of general tags to 50 percent, making electronic checking available for archery and muzzleloader seasons, establishing a new Cherry Late firearm unit and a corresponding late doe season for that unit.

Regulation changes to elk hunting include increasing permit quotas in most units and expanding elk zones in many units to increase landowner eligibility.

Following are the 2010 big game season dates:

Deer

• Archery – Sept. 15-Nov. 12 and Nov. 22-Dec. 31
• Mule Deer Conservation Area – Sept. 15-Dec. 31
• October Antlerless (any weapon) – Oct. 2-11
• November Firearm – Nov. 13-21
• Earn-a-Buck November Firearm (Wahoo and Elkhorn units) – Nov. 13-23
• Muzzleloader – Dec. 1-31
• Season Choice (antlerless) – Sept. 15-Jan. 18, 2011 with bow; Dec. 1-31 with muzzleloader and Nov. 13-21 and Jan. 1-18, 2011 with firearm
• Youth and Landowner – Sept. 15-Dec. 31 with bow; Dec. 1-31 with muzzleloader; Nov. 13-21 with firearm; and Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2011 (antlerless only) with bow or firearm
• DeSoto Muzzleloader – Oct. 16-17; Oct. 30-31; Dec. 11-12; and Jan. 8-9, 2011
• Boyer Chute – Oct. 23-24; Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 18-19

Antelope

• Archery – Aug. 20-Nov. 12 and Nov. 22-Dec. 31, but closed during firearm antelope season in all areas open to firearm antelope hunting
• Muzzleloader – Sept. 18-Oct. 3
• Firearm – Oct. 9-24
• Late Firearm (Cherry Late unit) – Oct. 9-Nov. 12

Elk

• Bull Permits – Sept. 25-Oct. 24
• Antlerless Permits – Sept. 25-Oct. 24 and Dec. 1-21
• Boyd Unit – Aug. 15-Nov. 12 and Nov. 22-Dec. 31

In other business, the board:

• – Adopted changes to underwater spearfishing regulations. The regulations give underwater spearfishers the same daily bag and possession limit on walleyes as hook-and-line anglers: four walleye over 15 inches, of which only one can be 22 inches or longer. This replaces regulations allowing the take of two fish greater than 15 inches, one of which had to be 22 inches or longer.
• – Approved regulations allowing the Commission to sell expired permits and stamps for no more than $25.
• – Adopted a resolution to expand the focus area of activities for the Focus on Pheasants plan in Nebraska. The plan is an effort of landowners and conservation partners to increase pheasant habitat and populations as well as hunter opportunities.
• – Approved a gift of the O. John Emerson Tract in Holt County from the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation. The land has been managed by the Commission as O. John Emerson Wildlife Management Area (WMA).
• – Approved the acquisition of 40 acres of land in York County for wildlife diversity and hunting and designated it as an addition to Kirkpatrick Basin WMA.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(AmmoLand.com)- Social media have transformed how the public receives information, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has embraced that transformation.

Thanks to social media, more people are interacting with the Commission electronically than ever before, and the agency is disseminating information to the public in more ways.

Users may find all Commission social media at its Web site, OutdoorNebraska.org. These include four blogs. The most recent to launch is “Afield and Afloat,” the NEBRASKAland Magazine blog that shares staff experiences in the great outdoors, reveals what goes into producing the magazine, including the occasional photo tip, and ideas on where to go and what to do outside.

The other blogs are:

• “Barbs and Backlashes“  Daryl Bauer, fisheries outreach program manager, shares his vast knowledge with fishing enthusiasts.
• “In the Wild with Greg Wagner” The Omaha metro office manager shares his knowledge of the outdoors and encourages people to get out into the wild.
• “Lock, Stock and Bedlam” Jeff Rawlinson and Aaron Hershberger of the Outdoor Education team give straight-forward, timely information on hunting, fishing, shooting skills, techniques, and tips.

The Commission also is taking advantage of Facebook and Twitter. The agency launched its Facebook and Twitter offerings in May 2009. The agency had 700 Facebook fans by October and 2,700 by March. More than 3,000 people were following the agency on Twitter as of March 1.

Web page users also will find that Commission has a YouTube channel, on which a variety of state park videos may be viewed. To keep up on the latest news, readers may subscribe to receive RSS feeds or e-mailed news releases.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(AmmoLand.com)- Shotgunning skills will be tested at a Beyond BOW event March 27 at the One Box Shooting Complex near Broken Bow, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The day will include a round of trap, round of sporting clays and five planted pheasants per participant. A $250 fee also includes lodging and a meal.

Contact Julia Plugge at julia.plugge@nebraska.gov or (402) 471-6009 for a registration form.

Beyond BOW events are for women who have been introduced to specific outdoor skills through the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program and now want to further their skills in Beyond BOW.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(AmmoLand.com)- Adults may be trained to become volunteer apprentice hunter education instructors, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Firearm instructor training will take place Feb. 23 in Chadron. The class begins at 6 p.m. at Chadron State College in Burkhiser Technology Complex Room 321.

Training for bow hunter instructors will be March 5 in Kearney beginning at 2 p.m. in the Camelia Room of the Ramada Inn.

Contact Hunter Education Coordinator Mike Streeter at (402) 471-6134 or mike.streeter@nebraska.gov by Feb. 23 to register for firearms training and by March 4 to sign up for bow hunter training.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb.- – (Ammoland.com)- Efforts to control the light goose population continue with the Light Goose Conservation Action, which begins Feb. 6, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The dates for the conservation action are: Zone 1, Feb. 6-April 18; Zone 2, Feb. 6-April 1 and Zone 3, Feb. 6-April 18.

White and blue-phase snow geese and Ross’ geese may be taken statewide during the conservation action, but different regulations apply in each zone. Read the 2009 Nebraska Waterfowl Guide, which includes regulations for the 2010 conservation action, at http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us/hunting/guides/waterfowl/waterfowl.asp.

Considerable effort has been put toward the reduction of the mid-continent snow goose population. This population attracts attention because of the damage to Arctic habitats it has caused. The use of methods to increase harvest has resulted in more than a million snow geese being harvested annually since 1998, with nearly 1.5 million taken in 1999. It is estimated that 1.4 million snow geese would have to be harvested annually to reduce the population.

There are no bag or possession limits during the conservation action and hunters may shoot 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Hunters may use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls during the conservation action.

Hunting is allowed statewide except for several state wildlife management areas and federal waterfowl production areas in the Rainwater Basin region of central Nebraska.

In Zones 1 and 2, hunting will be allowed only on Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. Beginning March 24, hunting will be allowed seven days a week.

In Zone 1, it is illegal to hunt within a half-mile of the outer channel of the Platte River between U.S. Highway 281 and Nebraska Highway 14. In Zone 2, it is illegal to hunt light geese within a half-mile of the outer channel of the Platte River between Feb. 8 and March 10. The no-hunting area expands to 3 miles (changed from 5) between March 11 and April 1 to provide protection for endangered whooping cranes.

Conservation action hunters age 16 and older are required to have a Nebraska hunt permit, Nebraska Habitat Stamp, Nebraska Waterfowl Stamp, Federal Migratory Bird Stamp, and a Harvest Information Program number.

Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. – -(Ammoland.com)- There were 12 hunting-related incidents reported to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in 2009. Two of those incidents resulted in a death.

In those 12 incidents, six of the shooters were age 10-19, four were age 20-29 and two were age 40-49. In seven incidents, the shooter shot himself/herself, and in five the incidents someone else was shot. In two incidents, a nonhunter was injured or killed, and three of the incidents involved illegal activity. Six incidents involved the discharge of a rifle, three a shotgun and three a handgun.

Three of the incidents involved hunting nongame animals, three involved hunting furbearers, one involved hunting small game, three involved hunting upland birds, and two involved hunting deer.

The incidents that resulted in a death occurred in Wheeler County in June and Saunders County in December.

Hunting incidents resulting in injury or death are rare in Nebraska. The injury rate per 1,000 hunters commonly is lower than .01 percent. Nebraska has about 170,000 hunters each year, and over the last 10 years there have been about 12 incidents a year in which a hunter was injured or killed.

“All of these incidents were preventable,” said Mike Streeter, Nebraska hunter education coordinator.

Streeter said the most common cause of a hunting incident in Nebraska is when shooters swing on flying game birds and fire without knowing what is beyond their target, resulting in hunting companions being struck with shot. In such an incident, the age of the person firing the firearm is three times as likely to be in the age group 10-19 as any other age group.

“Hunting safety is a concern for everyone and Nebraska hunters do an excellent job of ensuring safety each year,” Streeter said. “Safe hunting is no accident. Follow the rules of safe hunting and enjoy the great outdoors in Nebraska.”

For a list of available hunter education classes, go to OutdoorNebraska.org, click on Hunting, Hunting Programs then Hunter Education.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –(Ammoland.com)- Platte River State Park may become a prime venue for outdoor skills education in eastern Nebraska with the completion of the Platte River Outdoor Heritage Complex, the Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners was told Friday at its regular meeting.

Through a grant from the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation, the Commission has moved forward with developing an array of facilities designed to accommodate personal outdoor skills development as part of the agency’s 20-year plan to recruit, develop and retain hunters and anglers in the state.

The proposed facilities will include a 50-yard small bore range, 50-yard target archery range and indoor pellet/BB gun plinking range. Design work has begun on this project.

Future plans may include enhanced fishing access on Jenny Newman Lake, a canoe/kayak launch and other venues designed for outdoor skills education. The facilities will be used for educational programming by agency Education and Parks staff in promoting hunting, fishing, shooting sports, hunter/angler skills, and firearm safety. This may include youth skills camps, school programming and family camps. The facilities also may be open for public shooting on a scheduled basis.

In other action, the board approved:

– a regulation change requiring that all deer, except those taken in the November firearm season, must be checked within 48 hours of the time they were taken.

– the extension of the grouse hunting season from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31. Regulations still require the season to open on the Saturday nearest Sept. 15. The change will align the season with the close of pheasant and quail seasons and allow more opportunities for late-season mixed bag hunting of all three species.

– regulations governing the use of Carter Canyon and Montz Point public access areas in Scotts Bluff County. Wildlife management area rules will apply, except target shooting will be prohibited.

– regulations for shooting range performance standards.

– the establishment of a petty cash/change fund of $60 at Rock Creek Hatchery to accommodate permit sales.

– the acquisition of the 3-acre Hubbard Tract in Morrill County, which will be an extension of Arnold Trupp Wildlife Management Area and managed for wildlife diversity and hunting.

– an agreement between Ducks Unlimited (DU), Inc., and the Commission to provide public access and conservation management for two tracts owned by DU (Rempel, 16 acres and Siebert, 80 acres) in York County.

– the Angler Access Program, a plan to enhance bank angler access on public waters.

– an agreement with the Metropolitan Area Planning Agency to rehabilitate the fish community at Carter Lake in Douglas County and contribute up to $2 million in Aquatic Habitat Program funds.

The board approved the following rankings of Land and Water Conservation Fund grant applications, including recommended funding and ranking points. Final approval of the projects would come from the National Park Service:

– Beatrice, Riverside Park campground development, $44,200, 238 points;

– Louisville, City Park playground development, $18,000, 236 points;

– Harrison, swimming pool renovation, $37,500, 235 points;

– Aurora, Cole Park shelter development, $82,689, 226 points.

The following Recreational Trails Program grant application funding recommendations were approved:

– Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, administration, $63,000;

– Schuyler, South Park Pond Trail, phase II, $80,466;

– Ralston, Oak Park Recreational Trail, $100,432;

– Aurora, Streeter Park to 9th Street Trail, $150,000;

– Hebron, Rock Island Trail, $25,521;

– Aurora, Cole Park Trail, $150,000;

– Lincoln, Billy Wolff Trail renovation, $49,700;

– Omaha, Cunningham Lake Trail, $127,431.

The board also approved the following funding recommendations for the State Wildlife Grant Program:

– The Nature Conservancy, enhancing diversity and at-risk species habitat in degraded prairie landscapes, $54,332;

– University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) Board of Regents, restoring interior least tern and piping plover populations by restoring lower Platte River sandbar habitat, $49,336;

– University of Nebraska-Kearney (UNK), response of herpetofauna to grazing and fire in wet, tallgrass prairies along the Platte River, $35,000;

– UNL and The Nature Conservancy, factors that regulate plant species diversity in prairies, $20,000;

– Southern Illinois University, regional assessment of Platte River wetland restoration recovery, $15,000;

– Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, noninvasive genetic analysis of scat to estimate otter population size in the Platte River Biologically Unique Landscape (BUL), $9,000;

– Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, mountain plover chick survival and habitat use in agricultural fields within the Kimball Grassland BUL, $65,000;

– UNK and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, reestablishment of plains topminnow in historical locations, $26,400;

– Prairie Plains Resource Institute, greenhouse construction, seed management building improvement and greenhouse growing internship, $25,000.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
2200 N. 33rd Street
Lincoln, NE 68503
Website: http://www.ngpc.state.ne.us

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. – The new $5 youth turkey permits will be available when 2010 spring turkey hunting permits go on sale Jan. 11 at 1 p.m. Central Time, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

In the past, youth hunters paid the same price as adults for a turkey permit. The new low-cost permits are designed to attract more youth to turkey hunting opportunities.

Youth permits are for hunters who are under age 16 on the opening day of the youth archery season. All turkey hunters, except residents under age 16, require a Nebraska Habitat Stamp.

The 2010 permit prices, not including issuing fees, are: resident turkey, $23; resident youth turkey, $5; nonresident turkey, $90; nonresident youth turkey, $5.

The archery and youth archery hunting seasons are March 25-May 31. The youth shotgun season is April 10-May 31 and the shotgun season is April 17-May 31.

A spring turkey permit, as well as a spring youth turkey permit, allows a hunter to take turkeys with bow and arrow in the archery season and a shotgun in the shotgun season. A person may have up to three spring turkey permits. The bag limit is one male or bearded female turkey per permit.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Two deer camps for women hunters are being planned by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Both are scheduled for Jan. 8-10, 2010.

The camps, part of the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program, are designed for women of varying experience levels who want to learn more about deer hunting. Participants will take part in all aspects of the hunt. They will be paired up based on experience level to provide informal mentoring opportunities.

The Central Deer Camp will take place near Alda in Hall County along the Platte River. A Season Choice Area 1 permit and Nebraska Habitat Stamp are required. A 2009 stamp may be used.

The Baxter Deer Camp will take place near Milligan in Saline County. A Season Choice Area 20 permit and a habitat stamp are required.

The hunt takes place during the January late antlerless season when no bucks may be taken and only legal firearms may be used. All participants must have proof of successful completion of a hunter education course.

Space is limited. To reserve a spot, contact Aaron Hershberger at (402) 471-6144 or aaron.hershberger@nebraska.gov.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. –-(AmmoLand.com)- Excellent deer hunting opportunities remain in Nebraska as the muzzleloader season arrives, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The season runs Dec. 1-31.

The recently completed firearm season proved that plenty of deer and large bucks are available. Those firearm hunters were hampered somewhat by the lagging corn harvest, but conditions are improving for December as that harvest continues.

A muzzleloader permit is valid statewide and has a bag limit of one deer of either sex and one antlerless white-tailed deer. The limit may be filled in any order.

“We encourage hunters to take antlerless female white-tailed deer,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager with the Commission. “The use of binoculars or scopes will help hunters avoid buck fawns, which often are more visible than adult does or doe fawns. By this time of year, the small antler ‘buttons’ are 1-2 inches in length and visible.”

There is an unlimited number of muzzleloader permits available again this year. Last year, 15,199 permits sold and 6,946 deer were taken.

Now that the firearm season has closed, hunters again have the option of checking deer electronically or at a check station. Hunters may check electronically by going to NEdeercheck.com or calling toll-free (800) 405-7700 at any time.

The Deer Exchange remains available, too. Donors and recipients of venison may register for free at ngpc.state.ne.us/hunting/programs/deerexchange/.

Open Fields and Waters Program lands, popular with firearm hunters, are a good option for muzzleloader hunters. This program has more than 36,000 acres of private land available for public walk-in hunting access. Check the 2009 Nebraska Public Access Atlas for tracts in each county.

Permits may be purchased at Commission permitting offices and at OutdoorNebraska.org. A habitat stamp is required of all deer hunters, except residents age 15 or younger.

For more information on deer hunting, visit OutdoorNebraska.org or read the 2009 Nebraska Big Game Guide.

Possible Record Nebraska Buck - Pic: NEBRASKAland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

Richardson County, Nebraska --(AmmoLand.com)- Practically every deer hunter walking into Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium this week wants to see the picture.

They’ve already heard about the buck through online hunting forums, text messages or word-of-mouth. They know it was checked in at the aquarium.

So far, no one has been disappointed, said Tony

Korth, aquarium director at Schramm Park near Gretna.

“Everybody’s saying ‘state record’ right now,” Korth said Wednesday. “It’s hard to say.”

The 38-point whitetail generating the buzz was shot Saturday by a 24-year-old Texan hunting on private land in Richardson County. On Wednesday, Wes O’Brien told the Journal Star his trophy has received a preliminary score of 281.

The rack’s official score won’t be determined for 60 days. During the so-called drying period, antlers will shrink a little.

So it remains to be seen if the O’Brien buck will top a famous set of antlers from a deer killed 47 years ago in Hall County by bowhunter Del Austin of Hastings. Commonly called “Old Mossy Horns,” the Austin buck scored 279 7/8 , ranking it not only first in Nebraska, but a world record for a whitetail taken by archery.

“I don’t care if he doesn’t get any records. He’s amazing to me,” O’Brien said of his deer.

Read full story….

Hat Tip: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission