LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider changes to big game regulations March 20 at a meeting in Lexington.
The meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 2605 Plum Creek Parkway. The public is invited.
Most significant of the recommended big game amendments is an increase in the River Antlerless Unit deer permit quota from 7,000 to 12,000. If adopted, this is expected to maintain hunting pressure on white-tailed deer in prime habitat on private land, where high deer herd numbers can develop the fastest. The permit allows for the harvest of two antlerless white-tailed deer with weapons legal for each season. The unit comprises land along many of Nebraska’s major rivers.
Another recommendation creates a system of preference points for draw unit deer permit applicants.
In addition, the Commission will consider recommendations to:
— allow for turkey tags to be cancelled by use of mobile devices;
— create a cash change fund of $300 for Danish Alps State Recreation Area (SRA);
— increase the cash change fund from $300 to $500 at Calamus SRA;
— renew a lease with the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for the management of the Salt Valley Lakes;
— apply with the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission for limited beverage service within the restaurant at Fort Robinson State Park;
— approve the acquisition of 96.6 acres in Buffalo County from the Platte River Recovery and Implementation Program (PRRIP) as an addition to Bassway Strip Wildlife Management Area (WMA), and, as partial compensation for the addition, trading the 51-acre Blue Hole East WMA in Buffalo County to the PRRIP.