Hunting

Hunters are reminded they may donate harvested deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program at seven processor locations in Nebraska. The participating meat processors are: Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats Norfolk – R&M Meats North Platte – Kelley’s Custom Pack Table Rock – Den’s Country Meats Franklin – Franklin Locker Ulysses – The Butchery Lindsay – Melcher’s Locker Hunters pay no processing costs for deer donated to processors for this  program. But they should call the processor before hunting …

Hunters returned to rural Nebraska the weekend of Oct. 29 for the 2022 upland bird hunting season opener and found variable success. Based on field reports from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff and law enforcement, pheasant hunters had the greatest success in parts of northeast and south-central Nebraska, including the Rainwater Basin. Many hunters also found good numbers of quail, especially throughout their core range in south-central and southeastern Nebraska. In Nebraska’s traditional pheasant strongholds, including the southwest and …

Kissinger Wildlife Management Area near Fairfield remains closed to all visitors, including hunters and wildlife watchers, due to the presence of two endangered whooping cranes. It is illegal under federal and state law to harm or harass the birds; the temporary closure is intended to prevent such activity from occurring. The area will remain closed until further notice by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Waterfowl hunters can find alternative pumped wetlands nearby. Find information at OutdoorNebraska.gov/WaterfowlChecklist under the wetland conditions tab, …

Deer hunters are reminded to locate their nearest in-person check stations prior to hunting during the nine-day firearm season this year. All deer harvested during the Nov. 12-20 season must be accompanied by the hunter and taken to a check station no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season. Check stations change from year to year, so hunters are urged to find their locations before they hunt. A list may be found on the …

The November firearm deer season is quickly approaching, and hunters are reminded to follow the four primary rules of firearm safety: Treat every firearm as if it is loaded; Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe direction; Be sure of your target, what is in front of it, and what is beyond it; and Keep your finger outside of the trigger guard until you are ready to fire. Hunters that follow these four rules greatly reduce the …

Seems like most of my blog posts this fall have been news items.  I know most of them do not impact a lot of anglers or other users.  But, if you are one who it will impact, you will want to know.  And, I know these things often “fall through the cracks”.  So, in no particular order: Olive Creek areas remains open after wildfire Olive Creek State Recreation Area and Olive Creek Wildlife Management Area in southwestern Lancaster County will …

By Todd Mills Thumbing through one of my favorite waterfowl magazines, I stumbled into the new gear section. It was impossible to turn the page without seeing something I could use. It made me wonder how we did it before all this new gear was available. Long before all the technology and gadgets were invented and used by kids today, we entertained ourselves with things that cost less money. My family lived in a house the size of my current …

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offices will be open to serve deer hunters seeking permits on two days otherwise closed in November. Offices in Lincoln, Omaha, Norfolk, North Platte, Alliance, Kearney and Bassett will be open for permit sales from 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 5, the Saturday of the Special Landowner Deer Season. The same offices will be open for permit sales from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, Veterans Day. All Game and Parks offices will …

Landowners interested in the Special Landowner Deer Season, now in its second year, should be aware of three changes beginning in 2022. This season gives a qualifying landowner a three-day season on his or her property preceding the regular firearm deer season. The $8 Special Landowner Deer Permit is valid only for the three-day season: Nov. 5-7, 2022. It is not valid for the November firearm season and it is not valid as a Limited Landowner Permit. The changes for …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters it will not be releasing pen-reared pheasants before the youth pheasant season and Thanksgiving holiday this year. Unlike past years, vendors were unable to provide the pheasants this year. The statewide youth season is Oct. 22-23, but only youth ages 15 and younger will be allowed to hunt. The youth season provides a great opportunity to expose youth hunters to upland bird hunting and spend quality time afield. To find new places …