Agricultural producers and private landowners can sign up for the general Conservation Reserve Program through March 29, 2024.

This conservation opportunity gives producers tools to conserve wildlife habitat while achieving other conservation benefits, including sequestering carbon and improving water quality and soil health.

The competitive program, administered by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.

As one of the largest private lands conservation programs in the United States, CRP offers a range of conservation options to farmers, ranchers, and landowners. It has been an especially strong opportunity for farmers with less productive or marginal cropland, helping them re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and support wildlife habitat.

General CRP helps producers and landowners establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Additionally, General CRP includes a Climate-Smart Practice Incentive to help increase carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by helping producers and landowners establish trees and permanent grasses, enhance wildlife habitat, and restore wetlands.   

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recognizes the importance of CRP for wildlife habitat and hunting opportunities. When managed appropriately, CRP provides cover for pheasants, quail, and other grassland species. Additional incentives through the Berggren Pheasant Plan or Open Fields and Waters Program may be available to CRP participants who are interested in going above and beyond minimum CRP requirements or providing public hunting access.

Read more about the Berggren Pheasant Plan or Open Fields and Waters Program at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

To learn more about CRP, interested landowners and producers should contact their local USDA Service Center, where they can apply for the program before applicable deadlines.

Commissioners approve 2024-2025 waterfowl recommendations

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved 2024-2025 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 8 meeting in Hastings.

Commissioners approved a staff recommendation to create a Veteran and Active-Duty Military waterfowl hunting season that will run concurrently with the Youth Hunting season. Participants will include veterans as defined in Section 101 of Title 38, United States Code, and members of the Armed Forces on active duty, including members of the National Guard and Reserves on active duty (other than for training).

The approved 2024-2025 Nebraska waterfowl season dates are:

Early Teal:

Low Plains – Sept. 1-16

High Plains – Sept. 1-9

Daily bag limit – six; Possession limit – 18

Youth Hunt:

Zone 1 – Oct. 5-6

Zone 2 – Sept. 28-29

Zone 3 – Oct. 19-20

Zone 4 – Oct. 19-20

Daily bag – Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit – three times the daily bag limit

Veteran and Active-Duty Military:

Zone 1 – Oct. 5-6

Zone 2 – Sept. 28-29

Zone 3 – Oct. 19-20

Zone 4 – Oct. 19-20

Daily bag – Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit – three times the daily bag limit

Duck and Coot:

Zone 1 – Oct. 12-Dec. 24

Zone 2 – Oct. 5-Dec. 17 and Jan. 8-29 (High Plains)

Zone 3 – Oct. 26-Jan. 7 and Jan. 8-29 (High Plains)

Zone 4 – Oct. 26-Jan. 7

Daily bag – Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; Possession limit – three times the daily bag limit

Dark Goose:

Platte River Unit – Oct. 28-Feb. 9

Niobrara Unit – Oct. 28-Feb. 9

North Central Unit – Oct. 5-Jan. 17

Daily bag limit – five; Possession limit – 15

White-fronted Goose:

Statewide – Oct. 12-Dec. 22 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9

Daily bag limit – two; Possession limit – six

Light Goose Regular Season:

Statewide – Oct. 12-Jan. 8 and Jan. 25-Feb. 9

Daily bag limit – 50; Possession limit – none

Light Goose Conservation Order:

East Zone – Feb. 10-April 15

West Zone – Feb. 10-April 5

Rainwater Basin Zone – Feb. 10-April 5

Daily bag and possession limits – none

Crow:

Statewide – Oct. 12-Dec. 12 and Jan. 11-March 13

Daily bag and possession limits – none

Falconry:

Concurrent with teal, youth and regular duck season dates, plus,

Zone 1 – Feb. 25-March 10

Zone 2 – Low Plains: Feb. 25-March 10; High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone

Zone 3 – High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone

Zone 4 – Feb. 25-March 10

The commissioners also approved wildlife regulation changes regarding threatened and endangered species, to reflect the changes in federal listing status of the following:

The interior least tern was removed from the federal list but remains state-listed as endangered in Nebraska.
The northern long-eared bat was elevated from threatened to endangered.
The Colorado butterfly plant was removed from the federal list but remains state-listed as endangered in Nebraska.
The eastern black rail was federally listed as threatened, including in Nebraska.
The American burying beetle’s federal listing status was downgraded from endangered to threatened
Also, commissioners approved a Board Resolution to sign the project agreement for the Transportation Alternatives Program. This grant program through the Nebraska Department of Transportation will fund the surfacing of 24.6 miles of Cowboy Trail from Rushville in Sheridan County to mile marker 400 near Chadron.

In other business, the board approved the acquisition of 11 acres in Holt County as an addition to the O. Johnson Emerson Wildlife Management Area.

Commissioners also heard reports on a Lake McConaughy creel survey and Game and Parks permits system for 2023.

Anglers, biologists join forces in Midwest Walleye Challenge

Anglers and biologists are joining forces to bring a new kind of fishing tournament to Nebraska.

The Midwest Walleye Challenge will give anglers in states across the Midwest a chance to compete for prizes while collecting important data for biologists.

The collection of angler catch data during the Nebraska challenge, which runs March 30-June 30, can help the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission learn more about Nebraska walleye fisheries. In the process, Nebraska anglers can see how their walleye fisheries compare to others in the Midwest.

Anglers can choose to be part of the free prize pool or, with a $25 entry, compete for cash prizes.

Prizes includes:

“Tough Luck” prizes for anglers who do not catch any walleyes. This is important data because it allows biologists to know the times when no fish are caught.
Prizes for the longest walleye caught.
Two categories of participant — $25 entry fee category where cash and non-cash prizes will be awarded, and a free category, where anglers can participate for non-cash prizes.
Random draw prizes will be awarded to any participant who catches a walleye. Entrants will have a chance to win a prize regardless of size of walleye caught. This provides anglers an incentive to report all walleye caught and helps encourage representative sampling of all sizes of walleyes.
This event uses the mobile app MyCatch to record the length of each walleye caught. Anglers will have to photograph fish on a measuring device using the app. Once the fish is reviewed by the catch team and meets rule requirements, it will appear on a live leaderboard.

Go to anglersatlas.com and click on “Find Events to Join” to learn more. View the rules and register at AnglersAtlas.com/event/768.

Register now for annual Vanderheiden Memorial Run

Registration is open for the third annual Tyler Vanderheiden Memorial Run, a race aimed at raising awareness and understanding of mental health that also acts as a fundraiser for Nebraska Game and Parks state park trails.

The run is May 25 at Cody Park, 1899 US-83, North Platte. Participants may choose between a 2-mile or 5-mile distance and run or walk in-person or virtually.

Register for the event at PlatteRiverFitness.com/PublicHealth or donate to the fundraiser at TylerVanderheidenMemorial.com.

Funds raised from the 2024 run will support upgrades to the Jim MacAllister Nature Trail, a 1.5-mile hiking path through the Niobrara River Valley at Smith Falls State Park.

“Tyler’s run represents so much more to me than just an event; it is a beacon of hope and remembrance, where every step we take becomes a testament to the love that Tyler carried and the love we still carry for him. It is a run that unites us all by lighting a path for all who may be struggling,” said Shannon Vanderheiden, Tyler’s mom and executive director of the West Central District Health Department. “Please lace up your shoes and join us for all who may face mental health challenges. Run with your heart and help bring us closer to a world where no one feels alone in their struggle.”

The race will begin at 8:30 a.m. Central time, with race-day registration and packet pickup from 7:30 to 8:15 a.m. at the park pavilion. Those choosing to run virtually must register by 4 p.m. Central time May 24 and may complete their race anytime and anywhere between May 24-26.

Like years prior, race organizers have made it a goal to see runners from every Nebraska county and every state in the nation participate in-person or virtually in the race. As of early March, people from 12 counties in Nebraska and 14 states were registered.

The run is organized by the Platte River Fitness Series with support by West Central District Health Department. Proceeds are donated to the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation for the creation, maintenance or upgrade of trails at the 76 state park areas.

“Trails connect people to nature, and science shows it improves their mental well-being and physical health,” said Jeff Fields, parks division administrator for Nebraska Game and Parks. “We are honored to work with the Vanderheiden family to enhance trails in Nebraska state parks for the benefit of all.”

To learn more about the trail project, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “Vanderheiden.”