NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Many Nebraska outdoorsmen and women will go afield this fall to pursue a time-honored tradition of hunting ring-necked pheasants and northern bobwhite. Hunter Education Coordinator Jackson Ellis of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says safety should be a top priority for hunters. “This is an exciting time of the year for Nebraska hunters,” he said. “While hunting is one of the safest family sports outdoors, with hunting incidents at an all-time low in Nebraska in recent …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska youth got to experience an upland hunt as adult mentors took them afield for the state’s special youth pheasant hunt Oct. 20-21. The special hunt took place on 13 wildlife management areas (WMA), where the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission released 6,997 roosters Oct. 19. In total, 298 adult mentors accompanied 375 youth hunters on the hunt this year. Youth and their mentors harvested 52 wild roosters and 592 released roosters. “We are excited to see …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Great hunting opportunities and access await hunters when they go afield for the opener of the Nebraska pheasant, quail and partridge seasons on Oct. 27. Hunters seeking new places to hunt are encouraged to refer to the 2018-19 Public Access Atlas, which displays nearly a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout the state. In addition to state and federal lands, hunters will have access to more than 317,000 acres of private land enrolled in the Nebraska …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The stocking of rainbow trout at Ogallala and Bridgeport has been rescheduled to Oct. 23 because of equipment issues. The Rock Creek State Fish Hatchery had been scheduled to stock 600 trout at Humphrey Pond in Ogallala and 1,400 at Bridgeport State Recreation Area Northwest Pit on Oct. 22. Instead, the stocking will be delayed a day. Trout are being stocked in city ponds and lakes across the state by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The list of Nebraska species of greatest conservation need has been revised. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and other species experts recently reviewed and revised the list, which is identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan. The development and implementation of the Plan is the goal of the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project. The Plan serves as a blueprint for conserving Nebraska’s native plants, animals, and their habitats by working collaboratively with partners, communities and individuals. One …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Busy schedules around the holidays can make it easy to forget to purchase Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permits for the new year. Nov. 1 is the time to start buying 2019 annual hunting, fishing, fur harvest and park permits. While buying a permit for yourself, consider purchasing one as a holiday gift for a friend or family member. These permits are valid Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2019. Age and residency restrictions apply to some permits. Stamps also …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The entire population of whooping cranes in the Central Flyway is expected to migrate through Nebraska over the next several weeks. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission encourages the public to report whooping crane sightings. Information on crane sightings is used to positively affect whooping crane conservation and recovery efforts. Report any sightings to Game and Parks at 402-471-0641 or online at http://outdoornebraska.gov/whoopingcrane/. Observers of cranes are encouraged to record number of birds, location, type of activity, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Prescribed burns are planned on some Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife management areas (WMA), state parks (SP), state recreation areas (SRA) and state historical parks (SHP) where weather conditions allow. Historically, wildlife habitats were shaped by wildfires that occurred throughout the year. Burns during the fall and winter can help set back undesirable plants that invade native woodlands and prairies, as well as other grass and wooded areas. Eastern red cedar trees, honey locust, buckbrush, sumac, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Wetland conditions across most of the state are good and, in places, have improved since early September, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. On Oct. 17, Game and Parks released a weekly update on the status of Rainwater Basin wetlands, as well as updated pumping plans. “Due to cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, conditions throughout most of the state and in many Rainwater Basin wetlands are generally good and have improved over the past two …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in November. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Nov. 1 – Late doe/fawn antelope season opens Nov. 1 – Raccoon, opossum, long-tailed weasel, mink, red fox, gray fox and badger hunting and trapping seasons open Nov. 1 – Muskrat and beaver trapping season opens Nov. 3 – Turkey Trot, …