Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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The public is invited to participate in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's annual summer turkey brood survey July 1-Aug. 31. The survey provides useful estimates about annual production by wild turkey hens and how many poults, or young turkeys, survive the summer brood-rearing period. These records lend insight into population indices and trends, which inform management decisions regarding wild turkeys. During July and August, survey participants are asked to record all turkeys they see....
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved wildlife orders that move the start of the spring turkey season at its meeting June 12 in North Platte. The change to orders will: • Move the start of the spring archery season from March 25 to the Saturday closest to April 8. • Move the start of the spring youth shotgun season from the Saturday closest to April 8 to the Saturday closest to April 15. • Move the start of the spring regular shotgun season from the Saturday closest to April 15 to the Saturday closest to April 22. Delaying harve...
Fisheries biologists for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission were collecting paddlefish for a study this spring when a large and rare fish for Nebraska showed up in the net. A 70-pound lake sturgeon was pulled from the Missouri River at Gavins Point Dam on April 14. Blake Logan and his fellow Missouri River Program biologists pulled in the net with the fish, which is listed as threatened in Nebraska. They photographed it, weighed it, and measured it at 59.6 inches in length. "Our sampling...
Nebraska anglers, fisheries managers want your help. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is conducting creel surveys to better understand the relationship between the angling community and fisheries. These angler surveys will be conducted at Davis Creek Reservoir, Calamus Reservoir, Sutherland Reservoir, Lake Ogallala, and Prairie Queen Reservoir from April through October, and at Prairie View Lake and...
Registration is open for the Nebraska Birding Bowl, a friendly competition to observe as many bird species as possible while supporting wildlife conservation. All birders are welcome. The fourth annual Birding Bowl will take place May 1-31 to help celebrate Nebraska Bird Month. This free, statewide competition will be a great opportunity to try out this fun hobby, improve skills, and share your love of birding with others. "Whether you're a lifelong birder or just getting started, this friendly...
Turkey hunters will take to the woods for Nebraska's spring shotgun season April 18. They can expect a season consistent with the past five years, according to Carlie Gizel, wild turkey program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Statewide spring population indices indicated an 18% increase from 2024 to 2025. Regionally, the average number of turkeys observed increased from 2024 in all regions except the Sandhills and Northeast. Gizel said that while overall turkey numbers are...
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications for one 2026 bighorn sheep regular lottery permit beginning April 20. A $34 nonrefundable application fee must accompany each application. Only Nebraska residents 12 years and older are eligible for the lottery. It is unlawful to submit more than one application in a calendar year for a regular lottery permit. Residents may receive only one permit in a lifetime. The permit is not transferable. The application period begins at 1 p.m. Central time April 20 and ends Aug. 7....
Walleye anglers have a new way to compete, connect and contribute to fisheries science and management across the Midwest. The third year of the Midwest Walleye Challenge introduces County Captains and Weekly Challenges - features designed to spark friendly rivalry, boost participation and strengthen local pride across participating states. The Nebraska Walleye Challenge is a citizen science fishing event that brings anglers and biologists together to support walleye fisheries. Open to anglers of...
Russ Befort now has completed the Nebraska Upland Slam four times in four seasons. The 43-year-old from Shawnee, Kansas, knows he couldn’t have done it alone. He credits his dog, Otis, for playing a “critical” role. While hunting the greater prairie-chicken and sharp-tailed grouse, after walking several miles, Befort was presented just one shot on each bird. Otis, a Kliene Munsterlander, was able to retrieve each downed bird. Befort was randomly drawn as the grand prize winner in the eighth year of the Upland Slam, winning a Winchester SX4 U...
Prescribed burns will begin this spring on some Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife management areas, state parks and state recreation areas where weather allows. Burning allows habitat managers to positively affect more acres. Those burns not completed this spring will be attempted this summer, fall or winter as weather allows. Burned acres often become more attractive to wildlife species, and for some species, the effect is immediate. The long-term effects on wildlife habitat are much better if prescribed burning is used as a...
Spring stockings of rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across Nebraska are beginning. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish hatcheries staff are releasing 12-inch trout to enhance fishing opportunities this spring and jump-start the open water fishing season. “This popular program emphasizes our urban and community waters statewide,” said Daryl Bauer, Game and Parks’ fisheries outreach program manager. “We encourage anglers to get out and enjoy the weather and harvest a few trout.” Those just getting into fishing, are encouraged to read Game...
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept archery paddlefish permit applications from March 1-14. The application period begins at 1 p.m. Central time on March 1. Postal mail applications must be received in Game and Parks’ Lincoln office by 5 p.m., and online applications by 11:59 p.m., March 14. A nonrefundable $7 application fee is due at the time of application. Applicants supplying valid email addresses will be notified when the draw is complete. Those not providing valid email a...
The 2026 mountain lion hunting season in Nebraska’s Niobrara Unit closed Jan. 6 when the harvest sublimit of three females was met. The mountain lion season remains open in the Pine Ridge and Wildcat Hills units. The Pine Ridge has a harvest limit of 12 lions with a sublimit of six females. To date, two females have been harvested. The Wildcat Hills Units has a harvest limit of three lions with a sublimit of two females. To date, no lions have been harvested. Season 1 in all three units began Jan. 2. If the harvest limit or female sublimit in t...
Hunters may begin purchasing 2026 spring turkey season permits from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission beginning at 1 p.m. Central time Jan. 12. Hunters are reminded they may harvest no more than one turkey per calendar day during the spring season. All harvests also must be reported via Telecheck at OutdoorNebraska.gov/Hunt/Telecheck or by phone at 844-279-4564. Resident turkey permits, including issuing fee, are $34; nonresident permits are $158. Landowner permits are $18.50 for residents...
Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in marking America's 250th anniversary by participating in the Outdoor Nebraska 250-Mile Challenge. This free, year-long initiative encourages Nebraskans to complete 250 miles of outdoor activity to promote physical and mental well-being through fun, noncompetitive adventure outdoors. Starting Jan. 1, residents can begin accumulating miles by walking, hiking, biking, kayaking, and more. The challenge is designed to be flexible, allowing miles to be...
Applications for multispecies Super Tag and Combo lottery permits will be accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission beginning Jan. 2, 2026. The Super Tag lottery permit will be valid for one elk of either sex, one antelope of either sex, one deer of either sex and two turkeys (only toms and bearded hens may be taken in the spring). One permit will be authorized for Nebraska residents only, and one permit will be authorized for residents/nonresidents. People may apply for the...
Preliminary results from the 2025 Nebraska November firearm deer season show statewide harvest fell 7% from 2024, which was expected, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Harvest went from 28,056 last year to 26,029 this year. Given that populations are down after several years of drought, harsh winters, and disease outbreaks — and permit numbers have been reduced to aid in recovery — the lower harvest was no surprise. Whitetail harvest is down 10% from last year. Whitetail buck harvest is off 3% from 2024. Antlerless har...
Hunters and landowners are encouraged to offer their feedback on big game information during the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s public meetings in December and January. These 2½-hour meetings are scheduled in each Game and Parks district. All in-person meetings begin at 6:30 p.m. local time. The first 30 minutes will be an open house with time to talk with wildlife biologists, conservation officers and staff. Biologists will provide a presentation at 7 p.m. and discuss big game harvest results and season structure. Then they will take qu...
Hunters are reminded they may donate whole field-dressed deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program at 10 processor locations in Nebraska. Participating meat processors are: Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats Elmwood – Elmwood Meat Plant Lindsay – Melcher Locker & Produce Minden – Midwest Meat Company Norfolk – R&M Meats North Platte – Kelley's Custom Pack Plattsmouth – Meat Garden Butchery Table Rock – Den's Country Meats Ulysses – The Butchery Wahoo – Wahoo Locker LLC Hunters pay no processi...
Don’t wait to begin buying Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permits for the upcoming year. The 2026 annual hunt (small game), fishing, fur harvest and state park entry permits are available online, at district offices and state park areas beginning Nov. 15. These permits are valid Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 2026. A Nebraska vehicle park entry permit is an affordable way to have fun outdoors. Access more than 75 state park, recreation areas and state historical parks for an entire year or explore miles of trails, watch wildlife and get in touch with n...
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, including customer service offices, will be closed on Veterans Day. Offices that will be closed Tuesday, Nov. 11 include Game and Parks’ headquarters in Lincoln, district offices in Norfolk, North Platte, Kearney and Alliance, and service centers in Omaha and Bassett. For hunters looking to purchase deer permits for the November firearm season, the offices will reopen at 8 a.m. Nov. 12. Permits also may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.gov 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The 2025 firearm deer season i...
With the crop harvest ongoing and hunting seasons continuing to open, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters to be courteous. Hunters should expect to encounter farm vehicles and equipment on country roads and make room for them when they do so. Large equipment can need extra room on the road, so hunters, whether hunting on private land or public land, should park in provided lots and not along public roadways. As a reminder, no person may hunt on private land without the explicit permission of the landowner. A hunter of...
Upland bird hunters across the state will go afield Oct. 25 for Nebraska's pheasant season opener. Nebraska's diverse habitats and variety of opportunity continue to make Nebraska's upland hunting seasons attractive to hunters and set it apart from other states. Expectations for the 2025 pheasant and quail season are optimistic as field reports are frequent and surveys show positive pheasant numbers in locations across the state, according to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission surveys. Those...
The Oct. 18-19 statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season for hunters ages 15 and younger provides an opportunity to mentor new hunters. "The annual youth season provides a great opportunity for our young hunters to get out and hunt in a low-pressure environment," said Bryan O'Connor, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. "This is an excellent chance for young hunters to gain experience and hone their skills." Resident youth (age 15 or younger) do not...
Fall is the time of year when deer are more active. Crops are being harvested, and deer breeding season is in full swing. Bucks are more actively searching for does. They are bolder, less wary and more susceptible to collisions with vehicles. Deer are more active between dusk and dawn, but their movement peaks near dawn and dusk. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has tips to help drivers avoid deer-vehicle accidents and lessen the risk of injury or vehicle damage. The harvesting of crops...
