NGPC News

Extremely low water levels at two central Nebraska irrigation reservoirs are challenging boaters. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is asking them to use their best judgment when launching at Calamus and Sherman reservoirs, as many ramps are closed. At Calamus, Homestead Knolls middle lanes, Buckshot Bay west lane, and Nunda Shoal and Valley View flat boat ramps are closed to boater access. Boaters can use Homestead Knolls east and west lanes, and Buckshot Bay east lane. At Sherman, Thunder …

Thanks to a recently completed project by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, anglers are sure to enjoy better fishing on a half-mile section of trout stream in one of the Pine Ridge’s most scenic locations. The renovation crew teamed up in August to improve Sowbelly Creek where it flows through the 160-acre G.H. Coffee Park 3½ miles northeast of Harrison. The project, estimated at about $40,000, was funded by a grant from the Nebraska Environmental Trust. Anglers familiar with …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved recommendations for 2023 wild turkey hunting seasons at its Aug. 31 meeting at Fort Robinson State Park near Crawford. The changes to orders for the 2023 turkey season are: Limit all hunters to two spring permits; during the meeting, commissioners amended the recommendation to allow nonresidents up to two permits. Limit the number of spring permits available to nonresidents to 10,000; Amend the daily bag limit to allow a hunter to harvest no …

Public lands southwest of Gering that were closed because of the Carter Canyon Fire have been reopened to the public. The properties, located in the Wildcat Hills escarpment, are Cedar Canyon and Montz Point wildlife management areas, as well as two adjacent properties owned by the Platte River Basin Environments — Carter Canyon and Montz Point. The wildfire in late July and early August burned across the entire 2,200 acres of Cedar Canyon wildlife area, while a sizable portion of …

It’s been a hot, dry summer, and boaters visiting Lake Minatare and Box Butte state recreation areas may find launching and loading boats to be a challenge in coming weeks. Because of low water levels, the docks have reached the end of their track systems, making them unusable until the water rises sometime after irrigation season. Dan Thornton, Lake Minatare superintendent, said the dock there is expected to be completely out of the water before the coming weekend. “There isn’t …

Hunters are reminded Nebraska’s state recreation areas are closed to hunting until Sept. 6. Several hunting seasons open in early September, including archery deer, dove, grouse and other small game and furbearer seasons on Sept. 1. Early teal opens Sept. 3 and fall turkey on Sept. 15. Regulations state that portions of some SRAs are open to hunting from the first Tuesday following Labor Day – this year is Tuesday, Sept. 6 – through the end of the spring turkey …

Because vendors were unable to provide birds, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will not be releasing pen-reared pheasants before the youth pheasant season and Thanksgiving holiday this year. The statewide youth season still will take place Oct. 22-23, but only youth ages 15 and younger will be allowed to hunt. “It’s very unfortunate the Commission was unable to purchase birds to release for the special season this year,” said Alicia Hardin, the agency’s Wildlife Division administrator. “Two separate requests …

Nebraska landowners are reminded of a new program beginning this fall that could provide them a free elk permit. In the Free-earned Landowner Elk Permit Program, a person who owns or leases at least 80 acres of farm- or ranchland for agricultural purposes qualifies for an either-sex elk permit following the verification of 10 general antlerless elk harvests. A landowner’s immediate family members are eligible for the permit. The free-earned landowner elk permit was created during the 2021 Legislative Session. …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, along with AKRS Equipment Solutions, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, and Heartland DSC, is launching its fourth annual Take ’em Hunting challenge to hunters starting Sept. 1. Participants are encouraged to introduce someone new to hunting during the 2022-2023 hunting seasons, and then upload a photo of their trip to the Game and Parks website. Those who do will be registered to win prizes, including the grand prize …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds landowners of three changes made to the Special Landowner Deer Season. This season, entering its second year this fall, 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 may not be used as a Limited Landowner Permit. …