Big game meetings scheduled across Nebraska

LINCOLN — Hunters and landowners are encouraged to offer their feedback on big game issues during the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s public information meetings this winter.

These meetings, which are scheduled in each Game and Parks district, begin at 6:30 p.m. local time and will last 2½ hours.

The first half hour will be an open house with time to talk with wildlife biologists, conservation officers and staff. Biologists will make 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. 6 – Ord, Trotter Event Center, 127 Trotter Ave.

Dec. 12 – Crete, College Heights Country Club – Lower Room, 1225 East 4th St.

Dec. 14 – Ponca, Ponca State Park, 88090 Spur 26 E Dec. 18 – Crawford, Crawford Community Center, 1005 1st St.

Dec. 20 – Gering, Wildcat Hills Nature Center, 210615 Highway 71 Jan. 2 – Lincoln, Turpin Outdoor Education Center, 4703 N. 44th St.

Jan. 8 – Holdrege, Cobblestone Inn & Suites, 814 Burlington St.

Jan. 9 – McCook, Red Willow County Fair Building, 1412 W 5th St. McCook People who cannot attend a meeting can watch an online big game informational session via Zoom at 7 p.m. Central time Dec. 17 or Jan. 4. Visit the calendar event entries at Calendar.Outdoornebraska. gov to register for the Zoom meetings.

Pheasants to be released for hunting prior to Thanksgiving

LINCOLN — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will release adult rooster pheasants on 18 wildlife management areas prior to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

The WMAs are: Arnold Trupp WMA (Morrill County), Arrowhead WMA (Gage County), Bordeaux WMA (Dawes County), Branched Oak WMA (Lancaster County), Cornhusker (Hall County), George D. Syas WMA (Nance County), Hickory Ridge WMA (Johnson County), James N. Douglas WMA (Johnson County), Kirkpatrick Basin North WMA (York County), Oak Valley WMA (Madison County), Peru Bottoms WMA (Nemaha County), Powder Creek WMA (Dixon County), Pressey WMA (Custer County), Rakes Creek WMA (Cass County), Randall W. Schilling WMA (Cass County), Sherman Reservoir WMA (Sherman County), Wilkinson WMA (Platte County), and Yankee Hill WMA (Lancaster County).

To view a map of the pheasant release sites, visit the Upland Hunting page at OutdoorNebraska. gov.

The pheasants will be released to enhance hunting opportunities over the extended Thanksgiving holiday weekend and encourage families to spend time together in the field. Non-toxic shot is required at Kirkpatrick Basin North, Peru Bottoms, Randall W. Schilling, and Wilkinson WMAs, but otherwise all usual regulations apply.

Nebraska’s pheasant, quail and prairie grouse seasons run through Jan. 31, 2024. Permits and applicable stamps may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska. gov.

For more information on these and other publicly accessible lands for hunting throughout Nebraska, view Game and Parks’ Public Access Atlas online or contact the Nebraska Game and Parks at 402471-0641.