LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska will have a statewide teal hunting season on a full-time basis beginning in 2018. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently approved a September teal season in the northern part of the state, ending a four-year experimental season. Since 2014, the USFWS has allowed Nebraska to have an experimental September teal season in northern Nebraska as long as hunters properly distinguished teal from other duck species. Hunters were monitored to determine the rate at which …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA) dump station will be closed for approximately 30 days for renovation and repairs beginning Oct. 23. Park visitors can use the Windmill SRA dump station located at the Gibbon exit off Interstate 80. Water still will be available at Fort Kearny SRA and campers can utilize the hydrants throughout the park to fill their fresh water tanks. Fort Kearny is located southeast of Kearney. A park entry permit is required …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraskans wanting to donate or receive harvested deer can participate in the Deer Exchange. This program is designed to accommodate the additional harvest of deer. It brings together hunters who have a surplus of deer with recipients willing to accept the deer meat. The Deer Exchange, which is available annually from Sept. 1 through March 1, allows hunters and potential venison recipients to join a database and search for other participating parties in their area. Parties will …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The 2017 Southwest Nebraska Stubble Access Guide, which details more than 24,000 acres open to public hunting and trapping access, is now available. Published annually as an addendum to the Public Access Atlas, which provides maps of all land open to public hunting and trapping access in Nebraska, the Stubble Access Guide provides maps of wheat and milo stubble fields recently enrolled in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Open Fields and Waters Program. Tall, undisturbed stubble …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Youth ages 15 and younger are encouraged to participate in special youth pheasant hunts during the Oct. 21-22 statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season. Rooster pheasants will be released at 14 wildlife management areas before the special youth hunt season. The special hunts are open to the public, and the number of participants is not limited. No registration or special permit is required. Special regulations posted at each of the 14 WMAs will apply to all …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider a mountain lion management plan when it meets Oct. 20 in Omaha. The public is invited to attend the 8 a.m. meeting, which will take place in the Innovation Space at Kiewit University, 1450 Mike Fahey St. Mountain lions are an important component of the state’s biodiversity, and the mountain lion management plan is intended to guide management decisions based on the agency’s mission, as well as on the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Wetland conditions across most of the state have improved recently, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. On Oct. 11, Game and Parks released an update on the status of Rainwater Basin wetlands, as well as pumping plans for waterfowl hunting seasons. “Due to cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, conditions throughout most of the state and in many Rainwater Basin wetlands have improved over the past month,” said Ted LaGrange, Game and Parks’ wetland program manager. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will certify youth fishing instructors Oct. 21 at Lincoln’s Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, 4703 N. 44th St. This free workshop is scheduled 9 a.m. to noon. Youth fishing instructors will receive training and tools to conduct fishing clinics. These volunteers will have access to Game and Parks’ loaner fishing equipment and educational materials for events, as well as receive program incentives. They also are encouraged to volunteer for …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in October. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Statehood: A New Beginning, Rock Creek Station State Historical Park (SHP), Fairbury Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Wheels of Transportation, Arbor Lodge SHP, Nebraska City Sept. 30-Oct. 1 – Youth waterfowl hunting season in Zones 2 and 4 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host an open house at Ponca State Park (SP) on Oct. 11 to take public input on the design charrette for the park. The open house will take place from 5-7 p.m. at the Missouri National Recreational River Resource and Education Center. A design charrette is a planning session where citizens and stakeholders collaborate on the vision of a development project. The design team will host the open house following …