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Game and Parks schedules big game meetings
LINCOLN — 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 questions on topics such as big game management, depredation, permits, antlerless harvest, trophy management and diseases.
The schedule is: Dec. 1 – Omaha, Scheels, 17202 Davenport St. Dec. 3 – Fairbury, Fairbury Community Building, 601 City Park Road Dec. 9 – Chadron, Dawes County Fairgrounds, 4-H Building, 300 E. Norfolk Ave.
Dec. 10 – Bridgeport, Prairie Winds Community Center, 428 N. Main St.
Dec. 17 – Ainsworth, Ainsworth Conference Center, 606 E. 4th St.
Jan. 6 – Ogallala, Lake McConaughy Visitor Center, 1475 Neb. Hwy. 61 Jan. 8 – Palisade, Mihm Hall, 103 N. Vennum St.
Jan. 12 – Broken Bow, Custer County Fairgrounds, 4-H Building, 44100 Memorial Drive Jan. 14 – Blair, Public Library Meeting Room, 2233 Civic Drive Jan. 15 – Alma, Johnson Community Center, 509 Main St.
People who cannot attend a meeting can join an online big game informational session via Zoom. Two Zoom meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Central time Jan. 18 and Jan. 20. Register to attend the Zoom meetings through the event listings at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Verdel Landing WMA boat ramp to close for renovation
LINCOLN — The boat ramp at Verdel Landing Wildlife Management Area in Knox County will close temporarily Nov. 20 for a renovation project, with expected reopening sometime next spring.
The project will improve boating access for anglers and hunters along the Missouri River.It includes reshaping the two-lane ramp for a better launch slope. A new dock will be installed and an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking stall and accessible route to the ramp will be added. Riprap also will be placed along the shoreline to help protect against erosion.
Construction is scheduled during the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ winter drawdown on the Missouri River. This allows for the greatest ramp length and most efficient construction costs. During the closure, waterfowl hunters and other boaters may use alternate access points. Bazile Creek WMA, located 10 miles downstream, will remain open, pending adequate water levels.
The Verdel Landing WMA boating access project is expected to reach substantial completion by April 2026, weather permitting.
Funding is provided through a Sport Fish Restoration grant and proceeds from hunting and fishing license sales.
Direct any questions to ngpc.boataccess@nebraska. gov.
To view a map of other public boat ramps, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides-maps/maps/ and scroll to Public Boating Areas.
Hunters in 4 units can request a free CWD testing kit
LINCOLN — Hunters in the chronic wasting disease testing zone for this year’s firearm deer season will have two options to test their deer:in-person check stations or a free mail-in sampling kit.
Testing in the Platte, Frenchman, Buffalo or Republican units is part of the continued surveillance of chronic wasting disease and its occurrence across Nebraska. Testing and access to results are free of charge to hunters who check their deer in person or submit a sample using a kit.
Nebraska Game and Parks will provide kits only to those intending to Telecheck their harvested deer in one of the four test units.
Hunters may request one at OutdoorNebraska. gov by searching for “CWD” and filling out the “Request a CWD Sampling Kit” form.
Hunters will need to select the deer management unit they intend to hunt and provide their permit number to complete the form and receive a kit.
Once processed, the kit with supplies, instructions and a free return shipping label will be mailed to the hunter through the U.S. Postal Service; shipping should take three to seven business days.
Hunters should sample their deer within three days of harvest, and samples kept frozen until mailed back using the free FedEx shipping label.
Hunters should be advised to not ship samples on Fridays or Saturdays to ensure quality samples for testing.
