NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Passing Along the Heritage program mentored youth hunting sites may now be reserved. Lake Wanahoo, in Saunders County, has seven sites totaling 1,067 acres available for mentored youth hunting. In Buffalo, Cass, Cherry, Johnson and Lancaster counties, there are nearly 800 additional acres of PATH lands available across six sites. PATH is an online reservation-based program that provides Nebraska youth and their mentors access to hunt on private lands and selected public lands. Only youth under …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Starting this fall, a new Special Landowner Deer Season gives a qualifying landowner a three-day season on their own property preceding the regular firearm deer season. The $8 Special Landowner Deer Permit is valid only for the three-day season: Nov. 6-8, 2021. It is not valid for the November firearm season and it may not be used as a Limited Landowner Permit. A landowner may not apply for or purchase more than one Special Landowner Deer Permit …

LINCOLN, Neb. – You love it: being in the blind, setting up the spread, turning a flock, watching them cup, taking the shot and seeing a great retrieve. Duck hunting is time well spent. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Ducks Unlimited are proud to bring back the popular Nebraska Duck Slam, a challenge for duck hunters to take advantage of Nebraska’s great duck hunting opportunities. The Duck Slam challenges hunters to harvest a teal (blue-winged or green-winged) of …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters again are challenged to go afield with family and friends this fall to complete the Nebraska Upland Slam by harvesting all four of Nebraska’s primary upland game bird species. The challenge of the Upland Slam, a partnership among the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Pheasants Forever, Inc., and Quail Forever, is to harvest a ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken and northern bobwhite quail in Nebraska this season. Successful hunters upload a photo of each harvested …

LINCOLN, Neb. — There’s still plenty of camping spots available — even over Labor Day weekend — at Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala state recreation areas. Campers are reminded they will need a reservation to stay overnight, and reservations should be made before leaving home. Reservations can be made online at NebraskaStateParks.ReserveAmerica.com, via mobile app RA Camping, or by phone at 308-284-8800 during business hours. Same-day reservations may be made online or by phone until 5 p.m. Mountain time, if sites …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider a staff recommendation to authorize one lottery and one auction permit for the 2022 bighorn sheep season when it meets Aug. 27 in Gering. The meeting will start at 8 a.m. Mountain time at the Legacy of the Plains Museum, 2930 Old Oregon Trail. Staff reports there are 75 adult bighorn rams available for possible harvest in the state. If approved, the bighorn sheep season would be Nov. 29-Dec. …

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – West Cozad Interstate 80 Lake will be chemically renovated within the next week but is weather dependent. The rotenone treatment is aimed to eliminate common carp, gizzard shad and other undesirable fish species, which are detrimental to aquatic habitat, water quality and sport fish populations. Dry conditions are advisable for chemical applications. Recreational access within the treatment area is prohibited while rotenone is being applied. In preparation for the treatment, biologists have been salvaging game fish …

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – Join Ash Hollow State Historic Park as they present “Pioneer Song” performance by The Great Bear Folk Theater on Aug. 29 from 4 – 5 p.m. MT. The theater group, consisting of a husband, wife and daughter trio, will be presenting an hour-long production, adapted from the play “Pioneer Song.” The play recounts the perilous journey many emigrants faced while traveling the Overland Trail in the mid 1800’s. The Great Bear Folk Theater, based out of …

LINCOLN, Neb. – All of the buildings at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park in North Platte are temporarily closed because of a staffing shortage. The grounds of the historical park and adjacent state recreation area will remain open. As schools return to session and park staffing levels become more limited, park managers must make adjustments to hours of operation and services as needed. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission encourages its patrons to call ahead before visiting a park …

LINCOLN, Neb. – With the annual dove season opener on Sept. 1, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for hunters, as well as recommendations for areas to hunt. Dove hunting is a fun activity for many hunters each fall and provides an excellent opportunity to introduce youth and other novice hunters to hunting. Doves are abundant statewide and, with generous bag limits, provide some excellent wing-shooting opportunities. Doves may be hunted statewide Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, …