NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Preliminary deer harvest in Nebraska is 5 percent behind last year’s pace. From Sept. 1 through Nov. 26, there were 47,532 deer checked, compared to 49,923 in 2017. Mule deer buck harvest decreased slightly, with 8,575 taken, compared to 8,609 in 2017. This is still the second highest recorded mule deer buck harvest on record bodes well for Nebraska. The average age of bucks is also very good, with 59 percent of bucks estimated at age 3 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in December. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Dec. 1 – Bobcat hunting and trapping season opens Dec. 1 – Archery on Fire, Platte River State Park (SP), Louisville Dec. 1 – Light Up the Fort, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford Dec. 1 – Historical Christmas Dinner, Fort Robinson SP, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The seasons are changing and so are the deer hunting methods. Nebraska’s muzzleloader deer season opens Dec. 1 and those shooting black-powder firearms are gearing up. “Temperatures are dropping and the deer are going to be moving in search of high-energy foods,” Nebraska Hunter Education Coordinator Jackson Ellis said. “This is a great chance to spend some time outside and take the opportunity to put some meat in the freezer.” Follow these tips for a safe muzzleloader …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Students registered at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln may rent hunting equipment at the university’s Outdoor Adventure Center. The available gear and rental rates are: pop-up blind: $3/day or $6/weekend; layout blind: $3/day or $6/weekend; jake/hen turkey decoy combination: $3/day or $6/weekend; two dozen duck decoys: $3/day or $6/weekend. Weekend rates are for three days. The equipment is available through a grant partnership between the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Cabela’s Outdoor Fund. “We had two …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn the basics of ice-fishing or pick up a few new tips from experienced anglers at three free Family Ice-Fishing clinics in January. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Youth Fishing Program will host two on-ice events – Jan. 12 at Lincoln’s Holmes Lake from 1-4 p.m. and Jan. 20 at Kearney’s Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA) Lake No. 6 from 8 a.m.-noon. On Jan. 19, the Nebraska Fish and Game Association will host a classroom …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will release rooster pheasants at 13 wildlife management areas in time for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The 13 areas are: Oak Valley (Madison County), Wilkinson (Platte County), Sherman Reservoir (Sherman County), Pressey (Custer County), Branched Oak (Lancaster County), Yankee Hill (Lancaster County), Twin Oaks (Johnson County), Hickory Ridge (Johnson County), Cornhusker (Hall County), Kirkpatrick Basin North (York County), Arrowhead (Gage County), Rakes Creek (Cass County) and George Syas (Platte County). Kirkpatrick …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Cash donations are greatly needed to pay processors taking part in the Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program. Because of critically low cash contributions, several locations no longer can take donated deer and others cannot accept as many as hunters are willing to donate. The following locations can no longer take donated deer: Bayard, JM Pack; Diller, Diller Locker Company; Franklin, Franklin Locker; Johnson, Pelicans; North Bend, Bob’s Custom Meats; Table Rock, Den’s Country Meats; and Wahoo, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Preliminary deer check-in numbers indicate that statewide harvest numbers are down approximately 10 percent compared to the 2017 opening weekend of Nebraska’s firearm season. During this year’s Nov. 10-11 opening weekend, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s northeast district check stations recorded 11 percent fewer deer than last year. The number of checked deer were down 9 percent in the southeast and northwest districts and down 11 percent in the southwest district. “Many factors can be related …

LINCOLN, Neb. – You have the opportunity to help families, youth and the public discover and enjoy outdoor recreation by supporting the Fort Kearny Outdoor Expo during the Give Where You Live fundraiser Dec. 6. For 24 hours, donors may give to the Expo, a free annual event held at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area showcasing Nebraska’s vast outdoor opportunities. With more than 50 hands-on activities to try, including fishing, archery, kayaking, camping and outdoor cooking, the Expo allows people …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters of an ongoing mule deer research project in collaboration with University of Nebraska-Lincoln. There are 61 collared and ear-tagged mule deer does and fawns in the Frenchman and Republican management units of south-central and southwestern Nebraska. The study aims to assess survivability and habitat use of mule deer does and fawns. Hunters should understand that it is legal to harvest a collared deer and that hunter harvest is a …