Tag Archives: Open Fields and Waters

Hunting public lands. It can be a real challenge. No, scratch that. It is a daunting challenge. I know. I have hunted all kinds of game on various public lands around the state for years. So why is hunting public lands in Nebraska so tough? Well, in a state like Nebraska the overwhelming majority of our total land acreage is privately owned (97%) with only a small percentage of it open to the public (3%). However, Nebraska’s array of public …

LINCOLN, Neb. – There are more than a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska. The recently published 2021-2022 Public Access Atlas identifies and consolidates these public access resources for the benefit of Nebraska’s hunters, trappers and anglers. Printed copies of this year’s atlas are available at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission headquarters and soon will be available in its district offices and service centers, as well as wherever hunt and fish permits are sold. The Public Access Atlas …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Private landowners have until June 23 to enroll their land in Open Fields and Waters, a voluntary program in which they can earn additional income for allowing walk-in hunting, trapping and/or fishing access on their properties. Landowners earn annual, per-acre payments of up to $15, depending on habitat type and location. Additional financial incentives may be available for habitat improvements on enrolled acres. Game and Parks is seeking to add Conservation Reserve Program, or CRP, fields; Wetland …

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. – The recently released 2020-2021 Stubble Access Guide highlights more than 40,000 additional acres of wheat and milo stubble and adjacent upland habitat land open for public access hunting in western Nebraska. Wheat and milo stubble left tall after harvest provides fall and winter wildlife habitat and excellent hunting opportunities. Many stubble fields also include unfarmable pockets containing dense cover, which are often underutilized by hunters. After harvest each year, these fields are enrolled in Open Fields and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters will take to the field Sept. 15 for the start of the fall turkey season. Nebraska, one of the nation’s top turkey hunting destinations, has the birds, permits and opportunities for a great outdoor adventure. Turkey hunting can be combined with big game, upland game, waterfowl or fishing for a true Nebraska mixed-bag outdoor adventure. There are plenty of other reasons to undertake a Nebraska turkey hunt: • Wild turkeys may be found in all 93 …