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State launches new reservation call center
LINCOLN — Nebraska State Parks is launching a new Reservation Call Center beginning June 18. This enhanced service is designed to improve the park guest experience when making or modifying reservations.
Park guests will see the following changes: More reservation specialists will be available. The center will be open on weekends. There will be a queued callback system, eliminating the need to stay on hold.
Spanish-language support will be available. The new toll-free phone number for reservations and cancellations will be 1-844-637-2757 (1-844-NEPARKS). Guests are encouraged to use this number or visit Nebraskastateparks.reserveamerica. com.
Call Center hours will be Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. (Central time) and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Park guests still can call the Nebraska State Parks Information Line at 402-471-1414 for park-specific information, special event information, unique or complex reservation questions, or refund requests.
For more information about Nebraska State Parks, go to OutdoorNebraska.gov/parks.
Commissioners approve duck and goose season for 2026-27
Sidney— The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved modified Duck Zones and Goose Units for submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at its June 13 meeting in Sidney.
Changes to the zones and units would not become effective until the 2026-27 waterfowl season. Recommendations are based on federal criteria in conjunction with feedback from hunters who gave input on boundaries and their proposed modifications in 2024 and 2025.
Commissioners also heard staff recommendations for a 2026 mountain hunting lion season in the Pine Ridge, Niobrara and Wildcat Hills units, with adjusted harvest limits compared to the 2025 season.
After hearing the research, recommendations and testimony and considering concerns from local landowners, commissioners voted to amend staff recommendations to increase the harvest limit in the Wildcat Hills Unit to three lions with a sublimit of two females up from two lions with a sublimit of one female. The Commission approved the Niobrara Unit at six lions with a sublimit of three females and the Pine Ridge Unit with a total of 12 lions with a sublimit of six females.
Due to the amended change and following the Nebraska Administrative Procedures Act, the Commission will issue a public notice for a new public hearing for input and for approval of the 2026 mountain lion season for all units. The public hearing will be held Aug. 22, 2025, in McCook.
Staff reminded commissioners that resources are available to landowners and allowances are provided for public safety and addressing depredation events by mountain lions.
In other business, commissioners heard about recent improvements to the agency’s website; a report on Memorial Day weekend in Nebraska state parks, recent improvements and an outlook for summer; and updates on agency projects, research efforts and programs in the Panhandle region.
To view read the waterfowl recommendations, go to OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “waterfowl rezoning process.” Additional proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders will be updated and posted at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Paddlefish snagging permits accepted July 1-14
LINCOLN — Applications for paddlefish snagging permits will be accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission from July 1-14.
The application period opens at 1 p.m. Central time July 1. Mail applications must be received by Game and Parks’ Lincoln office by 5 p.m. Central on July 14, while online applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. Central on July 14.
Two anglers may submit a joint application, but the applicants must both be residents or nonresidents. The lowest preference point total between the two applicants will be used in the draw.
An angler must be 12 years old by Oct. 1, 2025, to be eligible to apply for a snagging permit.
Permits will be awarded through a random drawing based on angler preference points.
Drawing results will be available by July 20. Applicants supplying email addresses will be notified when the draw is complete. Others should monitor their status online. Successful applicants will have until Aug. 5 to complete the purchase of awarded permits.
Permits awarded but unpaid will result in the applicant losing preference points and forfeiting the permit. Unpaid or unawarded permits remaining after the draw will be made available to the next resident applicants until the permit quota is reached.
In lieu of participating in the draw, resident anglers may purchase one preference point during the application period for $10 and nonresidents may purchase one for $20.
Snagging of paddlefish and nongame fish is permitted Oct. 1-31 in the Missouri River from the Gavins Point Dam downstream to the mouth of the Big Sioux River at mile marker 734 for anglers who have an awarded, unfilled paddlefish tag.
For more information, including an application form, read the 2025 Nebraska Fishing Guide at OutdoorNebraska. gov/guides-maps. Watch our tutorial, “How to apply for draw permits and purchase preference points” at YouTube.com/@NebraskaGameandParksCommission.
To see a summary of the 2024 paddlefish season, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “fish sampling reports.”
Trout in the Classroom applications are being accepted
LINCOLN — Nebraska’s Trout in the Classroom program is accepting applications through August to join the program and earn a scholarship for the 20252026 school year.
This program is for teachers interested in raising live fish in their classrooms and utilizing the tanks for countless lesson plans and everyday activities.
Teachers will receive all the training and expertise needed to get their program up and running.
Trout in the Classroom is sponsored by the Nebraska Trout Unlimited Chapter 710 and coordinated by Nebraska Game and Parks.
For requirements or more information, visit OutdoorNebraska. gov and search “Trout in the Classroom,” or contact the program’s state coordinator, Grace Gaard, at [email protected].
