Commission Votes to Enter Memorandum of Understanding

September 11, 2015 Leave a comment


The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission voted today to enter a memorandum of understanding to work with five Nebraska Natural Resource Districts and the Nebraska Public Power District to take steps towards transfer of assets, including NPPD’s water appropriations on the Niobrara River, Spencer Hydro dam, and the lands and easements associated with the dam.

The Commission voted to enter the memorandum of understanding during a special meeting at the Commission headquarters, 2200 N. 33rd St. in Lincoln, at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10.

The Commission and the NRDs will seek legislative authority to convert NPPD’s water rights to a multi-use water right, part of which will be conserved for recreation and fish and wildlife needs, and part of which will be conserved for integrated water management in the Niobrara River basin. NPPD will continue to operate the dam in the meantime.

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Commissioners Approve Waterfowl Recommendations

September 8, 2015 Leave a comment


LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved recommendations for the 2015 waterfowl and crow hunting seasons at a meeting Aug. 28 in Burwell.

The 2015 waterfowl and crow seasons are as follows:

Duck and Coot

Zone 1: Oct. 10-Dec. 22

Zone 2: Oct. 3-Dec. 15 in Low Plains and Oct.3-Dec. 15 and Jan. 6-27 in High Plains

Zone 3: Oct. 24-Jan. 5 in Low Plains and Oct. 24-Jan. 5 and Jan. 6-27 in High Plains

Zone 4: Oct. 3-Dec. 15

Duck Daily Bag Limit: six (with restrictions); Duck Daily Possession Limit: 18

Coot Daily Bag Limit: 15; Coot Possession Limit: 45

Youth

Zone 1: Oct. 3-4

Zone 2: Sept. 26-27

Zone 3: Oct. 17-18

Zone 4: Sept. 26-27

Daily Bag and Possession Limits: Same as duck

Dark Goose

East Unit: Oct. 28-Feb. 9

North Central Unit: Oct. 3-Jan. 15

Platte River Unit: Oct. 28-Feb. 9

Panhandle Unit: Oct. 28-Feb. 9

Niobrara Unit: Oct. 28-Feb. 9

Daily Bag Limit: five; Possession Limit: 15

White-fronted Goose

Statewide: Oct. 3-Dec. 4 and Jan. 30-Feb. 9

Daily Bag Limit: three; Possession Limit: nine

Light Goose

Statewide: Oct. 3-Dec. 28 and Jan. 23-Feb. 9

Daily Bag Limit: 50; Possession Limit: no limit

Light Goose Conservation Order

Rainwater Basin Zone: Feb. 10-April 5

East Zone: Feb. 10-April 15

West Zone: Feb. 10-April 5

Daily Bag and Possession Limits: no limits

Crow

Statewide: Oct. 1-Nov. 15 and Jan. 20-April 6

Special Public Health Hazard: Nov. 16-Jan. 19

Falconry

Concurrent with teal, youth and duck season dates, as well as:

Zone 1: Feb. 25-March 10

Zone 2: Feb. 25-March 10 in Low Plains and Oct.3-Dec. 15 and Jan. 6-27 in High Plains

Zone 3: Feb. 25-March 10 in Low Plains and Oct. 24-Jan. 5 and Jan. 6-27 in High Plains

Zone 4: Feb. 25-March 10

The following changes to daily bag limits were made: the canvasback limit was increased from one to two and the white-fronted goose limit was increased from two to three.

Early teal season dates were set in July. The season is Sept. 5-20 in the Low Plains and Sept. 12-20 in the High Plains.

The commissioners also:

— added the bird species Red Knot and the mammal species Northern Long-Eared Bat to the list of threatened species.

— approved the acquisition of 11.26 acres in Adams County and designated it as an addition to Ayr Lake Wildlife Management Area.

Wildlife biologist Todd Nordeen of Alliance gave an update on the status of bighorn sheep in Nebraska.

The drawing for the 2015 bighorn sheep lottery permit was held. The winner was Terry Bogle of Lincoln. The bighorn hunting season is Dec. 1-22.

The Commission will hold a special meeting on Sept. 10 in Lincoln to discuss a memorandum of understanding between Game and Parks, Nebraska Public Power District and the Niobrara River Basin Alliance regarding the Spencer hydro facility and associated water rights. The dam on the Niobrara River is located 6 miles south of Spencer in north-central Nebraska.

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Kansas Point Campground Closing for Electrical Upgrade

September 4, 2015 Leave a comment


Starting Sept. 10 Kansas Point Campground at Lake Maloney State Recreation Area (SRA) will be closed to update the electrical units at each campsite.

The original electrical units were installed for the 56-pad campground in 1983 and are in need of updating to provide uninterrupted service to campers.

Rod Shimmer, Park Superintendent at Lake Maloney SRA is requesting that all campers and tents be removed from Kansas Point by 4 p.m. on Sept. 10, 2015. There will be no access to the campground until the updates are finished, which should take two to three-weeks.

The campground will re-open after the new electrical updates are completed.

Kansas Point sees over 35,000 visitors per year that camp, fish and boat at the SRA. Lake Maloney SRA is located just south of North Platte on HWY 83.

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Public Hearing for Waterfowl and Crow Recommendations

August 24, 2015 Leave a comment


The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for the 2015 waterfowl and crow hunting seasons at a meeting on Friday, Aug. 28 in Burwell.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Church Parish Center, 757 I St. The public hearing for waterfowl and crow recommendations will begin at 8:45 a.m.

A full list of recommendations to be considered by the Commission, as well as other agenda items for the Aug. 28 meeting, is available online.

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