LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s first limited river otter harvest season opens Nov. 1, providing those with a valid fur harvest permit an opportunity to trap one otter per season.

The season closes Feb. 28, 2022, or three days after the 75th otter has been harvested in the state, whichever comes first.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s goal is to manage and maintain healthy, thriving populations for the long term. This season will provide data about statewide river otter distribution, while continuing to allow the population to expand.

Trapping is the only legal method of take. Harvest is allowed statewide.

Each day, before setting traps for river otters, permit holders must confirm the harvest limit has not been met and the season is open by calling 855-881-8905 or checking Game and Parks’ river otter season status webpage at OutdoorNebraska.gov/ottertrapping.

Any harvested river otter must be reported within 24 hours of harvest by contacting the nearest Game and Parks office, conservation officer, or by calling 855-881-8905. The otter must be tagged officially by Game and Parks within two business days after harvest, with the permittee furnishing the date and location of harvest before attaching the harvest seal. The otter should not be frozen. See the Small Game and Waterfowl Guide for a list of office locations and conservation officers at OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides.

Any incidental take of a river otter outside of the harvest season, or beyond the limit of one per harvester, is unlawful unless the animal is immediately released if viable or the harvester reports the take and turns over the carcass to Game and Parks.

River otters were extirpated from Nebraska by the early 1900s due to unregulated harvest. From 1986 to 1991, 159 otters were reintroduced into the state’s waters. Their recovery and subsequent delisting from the state threatened list in 2020 is a prime example of conservation success in Nebraska. River otters now can be found nearly statewide with populations in most major river systems.

To buy a permit, or for more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.org.

Changes made to the fall trout stocking schedule

LINCOLN, Neb. – A change has been made to the fall stocking schedule of rainbow trout by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The scheduled stocking of the Niobrara State Park Pond (750 fish) for the week of Oct. 11 has been delayed and will take place the week of Oct. 18. Fort Kearny State Recreation Area No. 6 and Holdrege City Lake were partially stocked this week, but the majority of the stocking has been delayed until the week of Oct. 18.

David City Park Pond West (600), scheduled for the week of Oct. 18, now will be stocked the week of Oct. 25.

Louisville SRA Lake 1a (600) and Standing Bear Lake (2,000) in Omaha are new additions to the schedule, with both being stocked by the end of this week.

Stocking schedules can change on short notice for a variety of reasons. For more information on fish stocking, including the dates of other upcoming trout stockings, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/fishstockingreports.

2022 Nebraskaland Magazine calendar available now

LINCOLN, Neb. – The 2022 Nebraskaland Magazine calendar is here, featuring gorgeous images of Nebraska’s wild places and wild creatures.

Available for purchase online, this 12-month glossy calendar features breathtaking photos from Nebraskaland photographers across the state. Generously sized, this wall calendar offers plenty of room for penciling in notes and is a welcome addition for the home or office.

Purchase one for yourself and give another as a gift. Visit NebraskalandMagazine.org to place your order or stop by a district office to purchase a copy in person. Find a location near you at OutdoorNebraska.org/locations.

Oct. 23-24 youth pheasant season includes Special Youth Hunts

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Oct. 23-24 statewide youth pheasant, quail, and partridge season for hunters ages 15 and younger provides an excellent opportunity to mentor new hunters.

“Each fall, the youth season provides a great opportunity to get young family members and friends out hunting in a more controlled environment,” said John Laux, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Resident youth (age 15 or younger) do not need a permit to hunt small game, but nonresident youth must have a hunt permit and habitat stamp. Only youth are allowed to hunt during the youth season, except at designated Special Youth Hunt locations where accompanying adults are also allowed to hunt.

Game and Parks will release rooster pheasants at the following Special Youth Hunt locations/ wildlife management areas (with county):

Arrowhead (Gage), Kirkpatrick Basin North (York), Cornhusker (Hall), George Syas (Nance), Wilkinson (Platte), Oak Valley (Madison), Powder Creek (Dixon), Randall W. Schilling (Cass), Rakes Creek (Cass), Peru Bottoms (Nemaha), Twin Oaks (Johnson), Hickory Ridge (Johnson), Yankee Hill (Lancaster), Branched Oak (Lancaster), Sherman Reservoir (Sherman), Pressey (Custer), Arnold Trupp (Morrill), Bordeaux (Dawes), and N-CORPE east tract (Lincoln).

At Special Youth Hunt locations, the daily bag limit is two rooster pheasants for youth and one rooster pheasant for the accompanying adult. The accompanying adult must be a licensed hunter age 19 or older and only one adult per youth will be allowed to hunt. Non-toxic shot is required at Kirkpatrick Basin North, Peru Bottoms, Randall W. Schilling and Wilkinson, but otherwise all other hunting regulations apply.

For more information about the youth season and a map of the Special Youth Hunt locations, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/Upland (under “Youth Hunts” tab), or contact Game and Parks at 402-471-0641.

Those who participate are encouraged to submit a photo of their hunt to the Game and Parks’ Take ’em Hunting Challenge. In its third year, the challenge motivates hunters to introduce someone new to hunting as recruiting new hunters is vital to maintaining our strong hunting traditions in Nebraska.

Learn more about Take ’em Hunting at OutdoorNebraska.gov/takeemhunting.

Motorists urged to use caution to avoid collisions with deer

LINCOLN, Neb. – Deer are more active this time of the fall. Crops are being harvested and deer breeding season is in full swing. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has suggestions to help drivers avoid deer-vehicle accidents and lessen the risk of injury or vehicle damage.

• During the breeding season, bucks become more active searching for does with which to breed. Bucks are bolder, less wary and more susceptible to collisions with vehicles. Deer movement peaks each day near dawn and dusk.

• Anticipate the possibility of a deer on the road and plan how to avoid a collision. Be prepared to stop suddenly, but braking too sharply or swerving may cause you to lose control and roll your vehicle.

• Wear your seat belt.

• When driving near shelterbelts, woodlots or creeks, especially during evening or early morning, slow down and watch for deer. Keep your headlights on bright if there is no approaching traffic.

• When you spot a deer, assume there will be others in the same area.

• Deer often seem to be disoriented or confused by headlights. Some react by freezing in the light, some dart into the path of the vehicle and others bolt away. Honk your horn and flash your headlights to frighten deer away. If there is other traffic on the road, activate your emergency flashers and tap your brakes to alert other drivers to the potential danger.

• Many places where deer-vehicle collisions occur are posted with deer crossing signs.

• If a deer is struck, the driver may take possession of it but must contact a Game and Parks conservation officer within 24 hours to obtain a salvage tag. View conservation officer phone numbers at OutdoorNebraska.gov/ConservationOfficers.