LINCOLN, Neb. – Resident Nebraska disabled veterans now may apply for a lifetime vehicle park entry permit at no charge. Thanks to the passage of LB 770 by the Legislature, introduced by Sen. Tim Gragert from Creighton, a permit will be issued if the veteran: • was discharged or separated with a characterization of honorable or general; and • has been deemed 50 percent or more disabled as a result of military service or receives a Veterans Administration pension as …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Boat ramp improvements at Swan Lake are complete, providing better angler access to this Holt County lake. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission improved the gravel boat ramp on the north side of the lake by placing articulated concrete mats over crushed rock to form a firm concrete bottom for boat access. While still a relatively shallow slope, the 60-foot-long by 16-foot-wide ramp now will accommodate larger boats without the fear of getting stuck. A floating dock …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn about bird banding research at Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area and Chadron State Park during a virtual webinar Nov. 12. The free webinar, hosted by Wachiska Audubon Society, will highlight research that has taken place for more than a decade. The event begins at 7 p.m. Central time. Register for free at bit.ly/32hGOVC. The webinar will be led by Delanie Bruce, Nebraska wildlife education coordinator for the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and Nebraska Game and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters in south-central Nebraska wanting to participate in the Hunters Helping the Hungry program will have one less meat processor available to them during the November firearm deer season. Steakmaster Inc. of Elwood is not accepting deer. Hunters wishing to donate deer to the program during the Nov. 14-22 season can do so at eight processor locations, with two additional locations starting Nov. 14. Hunters should contact a processor they intend to use ahead of time. The revised …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Upland hunters were greeted by mild weather for Nebraska’s Oct. 31-Nov. 1 pheasant and quail season opener. Many hunters reported seeing relatively good numbers of pheasants but noted the dry conditions posed challenges. High temperatures were in the 60s Saturday and 50s Sunday. Although parts of Nebraska received snow last week, conditions remain very dry across much of the state. This coupled with high winds on Saturday likely contributed to poor scenting conditions reported by many hunters …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Excitement is building for Nebraska’s firearm deer season, which is Nov. 14-22. This season, hunters can expect good deer and deer populations. Buck age structure is at or near all-time highs, with 50 percent of mule deer and 40 percent of whitetails aged 3 or older during the 2019 firearm season. Many units have increased or expanded antlerless opportunity since both whitetail and mule deer populations are above or near desired levels in those units. “2020 looks …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Because of COVID-19 concerns, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will not run check stations this firearm deer season. Instead, all deer will be checked in electronically via Telecheck. This decision was made to avoid close contact between check station workers and hunters during the Nov. 14-22 firearm deer season in an effort to protect public health. One major change from years past is that hunters must complete the Telecheck process within 48 hours of their deer …

LINCOLN, Neb. – From August through May, nearly 180,000 Nebraskans head to the field each year in search of various game. Whatever the quarry may be, hunters adhering to these safety tips reduce their risk and that of fellow hunters afield. Hunters always should follow these tips: • Keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction. • Keep your firearm on safety and your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot. • Identify your target, and what lies beyond …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Pine Ridge hunters and anglers should be aware of stream survey work on Bordeaux Creek Wildlife Management Area and U.S. Forest Service properties near Chadron during the week of Nov. 2. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct the surveys to collect physical information to be used for the design and planning of the Bordeaux Creek stream restoration project. The project will improve in-stream habitat, floodplain connectivity and improve fishing and access for anglers. For more …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Deer season is approaching and many hunters can safely purchase permits from the comfort of their own homes. Rather than travel to a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting office, hunters can purchase deer permits online at OutdoorNebraska.org. By going to that site, they also can monitor the number of remaining permits by clicking on Permits, and then Remaining Permits. The Nebraska firearm deer season is Nov. 14-22.