NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Public access opportunities for hunting and fishing on private lands will be expanded thanks to a grant awarded to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The $3 million grant was awarded through the 2020 Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP). In Nebraska, VPA-HIP funding, along with matching funds from the Pittman-Robertson Act (federal excise tax on guns and ammunition), habitat stamp sales, and contributions from other conservation organizations, are used to fund the Open Fields …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Big Game Society Dinner and Auction, where a bull elk tag and a multispecies combination permit will be auctioned off, has been rescheduled for June 4. The event will be held in Lincoln at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club, 1800 Wilderness Woods Place. Residents and nonresidents are eligible for the elk tag and combination permit. The elk tag auction high bidder will receive a bull elk tag valid in any elk management unit during a 2020 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – In a proactive effort to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has temporarily closed public access to its Lincoln headquarters until further notice. Game and Parks’ district offices in North Platte, Norfolk and Alliance, and service centers in Kearney and Bassett will temporarily close Friday, March 20 until further notice. The agency’s Omaha service center has been closed to the public since March 16. All Game and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – With thousands of schools closed in response to COVID-19 mitigation efforts, the national State-Fish Art Contest deadline has been extended to April 30, giving students an opportunity to complete their entries – and keep creative – while staying engaged in learning activities at home. Nebraska artists in grades K-12 are eligible to compete in this free art competition, hosted by Wildlife Forever and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, for the chance to win state and national …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider 2020/2021 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 20 meeting in Hastings. So that fewer staff will be required to travel to the meeting, and to reduce the size of the gathering, the agenda has been revised in recent days, with several items removed. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the Cottonwood Room at the Hall Student Union of Central Community College, 35055 E. Community Drive. The 2020/2021 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – In a proactive effort to prevent the potential for spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at its facilities, parks and events, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is limiting some public access. The Commission aims to protect its staff and customers by removing opportunities for crowds to gather at facilities and events and by maintaining clean facilities. To do so, the agency has taken the following steps: — All agency-sponsored events and activities scheduled through May 31 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – In proactive state and national effort to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus and ensure the health of its customers and staff, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is temporarily closing four facilities. From March 14 through May 31, the following facilities are closed to public walk-in access: Schramm Education Center near Gretna, the indoor Activity Center Building at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Wildcat Hills Nature Center near Gering, and the Nebraska Game …

CRAWFORD, Neb. – Visitors who camp with their horses at Fort Robinson State Park are expected to enjoy upgrades and repairs to the Mare Barn Complex. Park superintendent Jim Miller said the wooden Mare Barn, which stands at the west side of the park’s main campus with a narrow 20,000-square-foot 300-yard-long C-shaped footprint, has been getting an upgrade from the ground up this winter. Constructed during Fort Robinson’s period of developing and supplying horses for the U.S. Cavalry in the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider 2020/2021 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 20 meeting in Hastings. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the Cottonwood Room at the Hall Student Union of Central Community College, 35055 E. Community Drive. The 2020/2021 waterfowl recommendations are: Early Teal – Low Plains: Sept. 5-20; High Plains: Sept. 5-13; Daily bag limit: six; Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit Youth Waterfowl – Zone 1: Oct. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The prescribed fire exercise scheduled for March 14 at Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area (SRA) in Chase County has been postponed until March 21 because of expected adverse weather conditions. Portions of the SRA will be closed temporarily to public access during the exercise. This is a joint exercise by the volunteer fire departments of Imperial and Wauneta, Nebraska State Fire Marshall’s Training Division, Nebraska State Forest Service, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Other area fire …