Outdoor Notes
Changes made to turkey hunting season
LINCOLN – Fall turkey season is approaching quickly and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has some reminders for hunters, as there are several changes in 2023.
The changes concerning this fall season are: The fall turkey season is Oct. 1-Nov. 30.
Each hunter may only have one fall permit.
The bag limit allows the take of one turkey of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment.
All turkey harvests must be reported via Telecheck. Turkeys may be checked by internet at Outdoor-Nebraska.gov/hunt/telecheck/ or by phone at 1-844-279-4564. This information will be on the permit.
Permits, which are valid statewide, may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska. gov and at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting offices.
To improve their chances at success this fall season, turkey hunters should be scouting as much as possible.
There are more than a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska. The 20232024 Public Access Atlas identifies and consolidates these lands for hunters. Also, 374,000 acres of private lands enrolled in Game and Parks’ Open Fields and Waters Program are included in the atlas. The atlas is available online at OutdoorNebraska. gov in several formats: interactive atlas map, offline atlas (mobilefriendly), digital flipbook and Google Earth KMZ files.
Stay up to date on all the turkey regulations by reading the 2023 Turkey Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov/ guides-maps/.
Outdoor Expo this weekend at Ponca
PONCA – A weekend of family fun is waiting at the Missouri River Outdoor Expo Sept. 16-17 at Ponca State Park.
This 18th annual event is the largest outdoor expo in the Midwest.
Participate in any of more than 100 outdoor activities, including wildlife encounters, fishing, kayaking, archery, camping skills, cooking demonstrations, contests, rock climbing, shooting sports, food and goods vendors, dog shows, craftsmanship demonstrations, local entertainment and much more.
New activities for 2023 include a high school/college trap team contest, Wayne American Fly-in Team, world-record setting log roll across the Missouri River, field dressing a bison tutorial and more.
Attendees will be eligible to enter a youth into the Youth Half Price Lifetime Permit Drawing program, which gives Nebraska youth ages 15 and younger the opportunity to purchase a lifetime hunt, fish and other permits for half price. The online entry form will be available during the event.
Also, the Action Trackchair, an allterrain wheelchair, will be on display. The chair, which enables users with the mobility, freedom and independence to explore the outdoors, will be demonstrated on the riverfront, where guests may try them. At 10 a.m. Sept. 16, Heartland Dallas Safari Club will present a chair to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to add to Ponca State Park’s three chairs.