Time Change for Landowner Meeting about Pheasants

ALLIANCE — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has made a slight change regarding an upcoming meeting for landowners in the northern Panhandle to discuss their roles and opportunities for pheasant management. The public meeting, which is Monday, Jan. 23, at Newberry’s in Alliance, has been moved up to 6:30 p.m., and dinner will be served.

Those planning to attend may ensure they receive dinner by contacting the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Northwest District regional office at 308-763-2940 or nancy.fletcher@nebraska.gov. The deadline is 10 a.m. Monday.

During the meeting, the Commission will share information about the Berggren Plan, a five-year initiative aimed at improving the pheasant hunting experience in Nebraska. Attendees also will learn about a variety of conservation programs and incentives available to landowners within the “Northern Panhandle Pheasant Opportunity Area.” This area includes most of Box Butte and portions of Sheridan and Dawes counties and represents one of eight priority areas identified in the Berggren Plan.    

John Laux of Alma, the Commission biologist who is leading the initiative, said the Panhandle has a lot of untapped potential for being a pheasant hunting destination, noting that pheasant densities in this region consistently rank first or second in the state during annual rural mail carriers surveys.

“The northern Panhandle has some of our best pheasant numbers, even rivaling southwest Nebraska,” Laux said. “We’re hoping to partner with local landowners to improve pheasant habitat and increase hunting access throughout the region. This will not only to boost bird populations and expand opportunities for pheasant hunters but also will strengthen hunting’s role for the local economy.”

More information about the meeting and landowner opportunities in the northern Panhandle may be obtained by contacting Commission wildlife biologist Shelley Steffl of Chadron at 308-432-6183 or shelley.steffl@nebraska.gov. The Berggren Plan is online at outdoornebraska.org/pheasantplan.