Commissioners Approve Waterfowl Recommendations

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.