Hunting

LINCOLN, Neb. – Northern bobwhite abundance has increased statewide compared to 2016, while pheasant abundance appears similar to last year and prairie grouse numbers have declined, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Upland Game Hunting Outlook. The outlook is based on spring and summer upland game surveys, and conditions reported by biologists. Regional weather events that could impact populations are considered. Northern bobwhite abundance increased in most regions of the state compared to 2016. The Southeast, East Central, …

The morning air is crisp and cold. Hardwood trees stand motionless and silent — faint brush strokes against the slowly lightening predawn sky. As light emerges, wild plants still green are bejeweled with dew. Small sounds begin to carve the creek bottom. A raucous calamity of crows can be heard in the distance. An assertive, vociferous blue jay appears on a limb. Two fox squirrels squabble amid the leaves on the woodland floor. The insistent nasal yammering of a white-breasted …

LINCOLN, Neb. – With several hunting seasons opening in September, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters to be safe in the field. Nebraska’s archery season for deer, and small game seasons for rabbits, doves, snipe, rail and grouse open Sept. 1. Teal season opens Sept. 2 and fall turkey season begins Sept. 15. Follows these suggestions to help make a hunting trip safer: — Always tell someone where you are going to hunt and when you expect to …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Big Game Conservation Association is raising funds for the Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program. Through Oct. 1, the association will match up to $5,000 in donations to HHH when individuals donate to the program through biggameconservationassociation.com/hunters-helping-the-hungry. The HHH program is funded solely by tax-deductible contributions. Ground venison is distributed by charitable organizations to Nebraskans in need. For more information about the association, contact Chris Edwards at biggameconservation@gmail.com or visit nebiggame.com. Learn more about HHH …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in September. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Sept. 1 – Hunting seasons open for cottontail, jackrabbit, dove, snipe, grouse, rail, raccoon and opossum Sept. 1 – Archery, Season Choice, River Antlerless Private Land Only, Statewide Whitetail Buck, Gifford Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Youth, and Landowner deer hunting …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s teal hunting season continues on an experimental basis in the northern part of the state. Continuation of the teal season depends on hunters’ ability to distinguish teal from other duck species. During this experimental season, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission again will evaluate the rate at which ducks other than teal are shot at or taken. “If the rate is considered unacceptable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, northern portions of Nebraska will lose …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Northern bobwhite abundance increased compared to 2016, indicating that populations in Nebraska continue to rebound from the severe winters of 2009-2010 and the severe drought of 2012-2013, according to a whistle count and July rural mail carrier surveys. Results of the whistle count survey show statewide, within the quail’s range, the mean number of males heard calling in 2017 was higher than in 2016. In addition, the 2017 July Rural Mail Carrier Survey shows that relative abundance …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may begin donating deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program Sept. 1 at 18 processor locations around the state. Three additional processors will accept deer for the program starting Nov. 11. Hunters pay no processing costs for deer accepted by processors for this donation-driven program. The HHH program is funded solely by tax-deductible contributions. Ground venison is distributed by charitable organizations to Nebraskans in need. Hunters should first talk with processors but may keep …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Dove hunting season begins soon and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for those hunters, as well as recommendations for areas to hunt. Doves may be hunted statewide. The season is Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, with daily bag and possession limits of 15 and 45, respectively. Bag limits are for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared doves in aggregate. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise until sunset. Nebraska residents 16 years and older …

Every hunter I know is an ambassador of our sport and our outdoor heritage.   Some realize this daily while others…well…don’t see themselves there yet.   When you think of what an ambassador does, it really makes you understand our importance in hunting and conservation.   By definition, an Ambassador is an accredited person sent by an organization to represent them.   So…how well do each of us represent the hunting community?   Do we speak of hunting and its associated partners in a positive light …