LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska big game and turkey hunters should be aware of wildlife regulation changes for 2021 regarding hunting over bait and carrying a handgun while hunting.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission passed these regulations in June.

The amended baiting regulation states that it is illegal to hunt any big game animals or turkeys within 200 yards of a baited area. An area is be considered baited for 10 days following the complete removal of all bait. The hunter and the animal must be outside of the baited area during the harvest or attempted harvest.

A baited area is any location where grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, hay, minerals (including salt), or any other natural food materials, commercial products containing food materials, or by-products of such materials that may attract big game or turkey.

Big game animals in Nebraska are deer, elk, antelope, bighorn sheep and mountain lions.

The other regulation allows big game and turkey hunters to carry a handgun, with a barrel of no longer than 5 inches, while pursuing game with bow and arrow or muzzleloader.

Any take or attempted take of wildlife with the aid of the handgun, other than for the immediate protection of human life, is prohibited.

Ash Hollow SHP visitor center, cave temporarily closed

LINCOLN, Neb. – The visitor center and cave at Ash Hollow State Historical Park are closed through Oct. 1 due to a staffing shortage. They will reopen at 10 a.m. Oct. 2.

The grounds of the historical park will remain open for visitors to enjoy hiking, picnicking, wildlife watching and other activities.

Ash Hollow’s fall hours of operation for the visitor center and cave are Wednesday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. They will close for the season Nov. 1. Tours can be made by appointment only by calling 308-778-7708.

As schools have returned to session and park staffing levels have become more limited, park managers have made adjustments to hours of operation and services as needed. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission encourages its patrons to call ahead before visiting a park to check on activity times and availability to ensure a great park experience.

For more information about Ash Hollow SHP, visit outdoornebraska.gov/ashhollow.

Catch these Game and Parks education events in October

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled a month full of interesting and engaging events for educators and the curious in October. Here are a few opportunities:

Little Saplings early childhood series presents All About Owls

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Little Saplings early childhood nature discovery program will have the program, All About Owls, in its monthly series at Schramm Education Center at 9 a.m. Oct. 6.

The series, which is designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregiver, will bring nature themes to life through stories, sensory activities, crafts and outdoor exploration. The series will be held on the first Wednesday each month.

The remaining programs in the series are: Nov. 3 – Fall Colors; Dec. 1 – Night Animals.

See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information.

Count birds Oct. 10 at the Lincoln Saline Wetlands Nature Center

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Spring Creek Prairie Audubon to observe birds at the Big Sit on Oct. 10 at the Lincoln Saline Wetlands Nature Center, 570-598 W. Industrial Lake Drive.

The Big Sit, which will run from 7 a.m.-1 p.m., will be a friendly challenge to see how many birds can be counted from one location. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and join in the effort to try to count as many birds as possible from the “sit spot” at the nature center.

Participants are encouraged to wear a mask and to social distance.

See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for more information.

Snacks and Facts virtual series to discuss reptiles

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn about reptiles over your lunch hour. Snacks and Facts is a virtual learning series from 12:30-1:20 p.m. every Tuesday in October

Since October is Nebraska Reptile Month, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will discuss an array of topics about the state’s native reptile species.

The schedule and topics: Oct. 9 – Reptile teeth and foraging; Oct. 12 – Reptile defenses; Oct. 19 – Reptile communication; Oct. 26 – Reptile conservation.

Registration is required. Get the link by visiting the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov. Email [email protected] for more information.

Conservation Career Chat: Legacy biologist

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on Oct. 13 in its series of virtual Conservation Career Chats. Sarah Nevison will discuss her duties as a legacy biologist.

Nevison will talk about how she plays a role in the conservation of plants and animals across the state and how she got into her dream job working with wildlife. Her position helps coordinate the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, the state’s wildlife action plan, working with partners and landowners to improve wildlife habitat.

The series is held via Zoom on the third Wednesday of each month at 10 a.m. Central time as a different Game and Parks career is highlighted. Each interview will be recorded and uploaded to the Nebraska Game and Parks Education YouTube Channel.

See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for the registration link as well as a schedule of future Conservation Career Chats.

For more information, contact [email protected] or check out the Nebraska Wildlife Education Facebook Page.

Reptile Craft Night at Cosmic Eye Brewing is Oct. 13

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, in celebration of Nebraska Reptile Month, is co-hosting Reptile Craft Night at Cosmic Eye Brewing Company in Lincoln at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 13.

The first 100 participants, with a purchase from Cosmic Eye, may paint a wooden snake, then enter them in the Reptile Month Art Contest.

Game and Parks will have a few live snakes on hand from which participants can gain inspiration for their work.

Email [email protected] for more information.

Nebraska Nature Nerd Night to discuss venomous snakes

LINCOLN, Neb. – Venom is one of nature’s most powerful weapons and is found across the animal world. Join Nebraska Nature Nerd Night at 7 p.m. Oct. 19 for a virtual chat with herpetologists Dennis Ferraro and Chris Visser about venomous snakes.

Learn how these snakes got their venom, how venom works, and how venom can be useful for humans in the field of medicine.

The event is part of the monthly Nebraska Nature Nerd Night virtual series for curious adults. These webinars, on the third Tuesday of each month, explore the secrets and science of nature through storytelling and conversation.

Registration is required. See the calendar event entry at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov for the registration link or more information. Questions for the guest may be submitted during registration.

Bohl is state champion at Smallbore Silhouette Invitational

LINCOLN, Neb. – Danika Bohl of Mitchell hit 34 of 40 targets to win the Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational on a windy day Sept. 25 at Pressey Wildlife Management Area south of Broken Bow.

Austin Rahmig of Gering was High Boy hitting 33 targets and Gavin Carrizales of Scottsbluff was Runner-up Boy hitting 32. Laney Bohl of Mitchel was High Girl with a 31.

The Bohls, Rahmig and Carrizales won the team championship for the third year in a row. Their Western Nebraska Shooting Sports team hit 130 of 160 targets.

The annual event, which was established in 1977, is open to all Hunter Education graduates who are at least 11 years old and have not graduated high school.

The 80 competitors fired 40 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition with a rifle unsupported and off hand at steel silhouette targets. Each shot 10 shots at targets that were 43, 66, 84 and 109 yards in distance.

The results are:

Individual Awards
State Champion – Danika Bohl, Mitchell, 34 of 40

High Boy – 1. Austin Rahmig, Gering, 33; 2. Gavin Carrizales, Scottsbluff, 32; 3. Braden Hiser, Seward, 31

High Girl – 1. Laney Bohl, Mitchell, 31; 2. Lilian DeWitt, Minatare, 26; 3. Sara Thomsen, Pierce, 23

Class B – 1. Nick Busse, St. Paul, 31; 2. Ethan Wooldrik, West Point, 28; 3. Dylan Glendy, Broken Bow, 25

Senior Division – 1. Jon Lindell, Beatrice, 24; 2. Nathen Kaup, West Point, 23; 3. Nathan Wardyn, Litchfield, 22

Junior Division – 1. Isaac Enns, Holmesville, 23; 2. Bereket Glendy, Broken Bow, 22; 3. Caydence Schumacher, Clearwater, 22

Heavy Scope – 1. Luke Olson, Atkinson, 22; 2. Beau Ruskamp, Pender, 21; 3. Ryan Rempel, Beatrice, 20

Light Scope – 1. Lilly Hanley, Lincoln, 21; 2. Seth Oltmans, Beatrice, 21; 3. Draven Priel, Bennett, 20

Unclassified – 1. Dylan Frye, Hyannis, 20; 2. Brayden Lurz, Hoskins, 18; 3. Bryce Lurz, Hoskins, 18

Best First-Time Shooter – Jaxson Orozco, Scottsbluff, 16

Novice Light Scope – 1. Kade Youngblood, Chambers, 14

Light Iron – 1. Tanner Kudera, Battle Creek, 13; 2. Ethan Papiernik, Ord, 10; 3. Parker Walahoski, Overton, 10

Novice Light Iron – 1. Emma Loxterkamp, Beatrice, 6

Novice Heavy Scope – 1. Thatcher Whiting, Kearney, 5

Team Awards
Overall High Score – Western Nebraska Shooting Sports (Austin Rahmig, Danika Bohl, Gavin Carrizales, Laney Bohl), 130 of 160

4-H Division – 1. Cuming County Sharpshooters (Beau Ruskamp, Ethan Wooldrik, Isaac Wooldrik, Naten Kaup), 83 of 160; 2. Western Nebraska Shooting Sports 2, 63; 3. Wayne County No. 1, 62

School Division – 1. Litchfield No. 1 (Cody Nelson, Gavin Cole, Lyndsie McAuliff, Nathan Wardyn), 57 of 160; 2. Litchfield No. 2, 32; 3. Lawrence-Nelson, 26.

Open Division – 1. Brandon’s Angels (Brandon Thomsen, Caydence Schumacher, Lilly Hanley, Sara Thomsen), 81 of 160; 2. Open No. 3, 72; 3. Open No. 1, 69

Game and Parks appoints McCoy as director

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners on Sept. 29 appointed Tim McCoy to become the agency's new director.

McCoy, currently the deputy director, succeeds Jim Douglas, who is retiring Nov. 2 following 47 years at Nebraska Game and Parks, the last nine as director.

"I am honored to be selected as the next director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission," McCoy said. "It is a unique privilege and responsibility to lead the stewardship of Nebraska’s fish, wildlife and park resources and provide diverse opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

Said Dan Kreitman, Commission chairman: "The Board of Commissioners extends our thanks and appreciation to Jim Douglas for his 47 years with the Game and Parks Commission.

“We welcome Tim McCoy as the new director; he has the education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities to successfully lead the Commission. We are honored to volunteer with the Commission and work directly with Tim, connecting people to our natural resources and supporting conservation in Nebraska.”

The Commission held a nationwide search and a series of public meetings over six months. Three finalists, all internal candidates, interviewed for the job in September.

McCoy, 53, has been deputy director since July 2012, and previously served as the wildlife division administrator and agriculture program manager in Lincoln. He joined the agency in 2002 as a district manager in the wildlife division in Kearney.

McCoy, a Nebraska native, holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and master’s and doctorate degrees in fisheries and wildlife from the University of Missouri. He was a fellow in the fourth cohort of the National Conservation Leadership Institute.

McCoy grew up on a southwest Nebraska farm, near Arapahoe, where he developed his passion for outdoor pursuits and curiosity about fish, wildlife and their habitats.

For more information about the Commission, go to OutdoorNebraska.org.

Aquatic habitat and sediment maintenance project to begin at Wagon Train Reservoir

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will lower the water level at Wagon Train Reservoir 8 feet in preparation for the maintenance of the sediment basins later this fall.

Visitors can expect the boat ramp and construction areas to be closed.

The reservoir has experienced the degrading effects of sedimentation and the nutrients that come with it. That combination partially has been responsible for blue-green algae blooms in recent years.

The project will reestablish the sediment dike capacity, which will improve its ability to capture future sediment. It also will include maintenance on existing angler access structures, replacing part of the concrete boat ramp and dock, construction of underwater shoals, placement of cedar tree habitat structures and renovation of the fishery. These enhancements will help improve the reservoir’s water quality and provide a better environment for aquatic vegetation and sport fish populations.

The previously authorized fish salvage remains in effect through June 4, 2022, with the following conditions: Licensed anglers may salvage fish of all species for human consumption by hook-and-line and archery during standard seasons. Length limits are rescinded, but daily bag limits are maintained.

Due to concerns for the spread of aquatic invasive species, salvaged fish cannot be stocked into either public or private water bodies.

Funding is being provided by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Aquatic Habitat and Angler Access Fund, the Nebraska Environmental Trust and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration.

Special deer hunts at Mahoney SP, Platte River SP, Schramm Park SRA

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering special antlerless deer hunting opportunities within Eugene T. Mahoney and Platte River state parks, as well as Schramm Park State Recreation Area.

Successful applicants will be issued a special access permit that allows them to hunt antlerless deer in designated areas of a park on certain dates using specific equipment. Successful applicants and interested alternates must attend an orientation session to receive the access permit.

Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted through 5 p.m. Oct. 31. If more applications are received than can be accommodated, a drawing will be held Nov. 4.

Hunters may obtain an application at OutdoorNebraska.org or by calling Mahoney State Park at 402-944-2523, ext. 7122, Platte River State Park at 402-234-2217, Schramm Education Center at 402-332-3901, or Game and Parks’ Southeast District office at 402-471-5431. Individual, mentor and buddy applications are available.

Legal equipment at Mahoney and Platte River state parks are archery and muzzleloaders. The legal equipment at Schramm Park is archery.

In addition to the appropriate deer permit and habitat stamp, hunters must have the access permit, as well as a park entry permit for each vehicle entering the park.

The following are the hunting opportunities, with park, legal equipment, and dates:

Mahoney, Platte River state parks – archery, Nov. 29 - Dec. 2, Dec. 6-9, Dec. 13-16, Dec. 20-23

Mahoney, Platte River state parks – muzzleloader, Jan. 3-6, Jan. 10-13

Schramm Park – archery, Nov. 29 - Dec. 2, Dec. 6-9, Dec. 13-16, Dec. 20-23, Jan. 3-6, Jan. 10-13

Successful applicants will be assigned a hunting period at a park, according to their preference. Hunting sites for the disabled hunters will be available at Mahoney.

Only antlerless deer will be allowed for harvest. Appropriate deer permits for archery hunters are: Statewide Archery, Antlerless-Only Season Choice Wahoo or Statewide Youth. Muzzleloader hunters must have either an Antlerless-Only Season Choice Wahoo or a Statewide Youth Permit. Some permits are limited and may sell out prior to these park hunts.

Orientation sessions will be Nov. 23 at the Eastern Nebraska 4-H Center for archers and Dec. 14 for muzzleloaders. Both begin at 7 p.m. Face masks are recommended. For more information, contact the Southeast District Office or the parks.