CONTACT: Jerry Kane
Public Information Officer | jerry.kane@nebraska.gov | 402.471.5008
LINCOLN, Neb. – Wetland conditions across most of the state are good and, in places, have improved since early September, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
On Oct. 17, Game and Parks released a weekly update on the status of Rainwater Basin wetlands, as well as updated pumping plans.
“Due to cooler temperatures and increased rainfall, conditions throughout most of the state and in many Rainwater Basin wetlands are generally good and have improved over the past two months,” said Ted LaGrange, Game and Parks’ wetland program manager. “The cooler and wetter conditions have also helped to make our pumping more efficient and effective.”
So far this fall, Game and Parks has pumped water into 17 Rainwater Basin wildlife management areas (WMA) and into two wetlands on WMAs located outside of the Rainwater Basin. In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service had surface water delivered into Funk Waterfowl Production Area.
Duck season is open in zones 1, 2, and 4 and opens Oct. 25 in Zone 3. The remaining youth waterfowl season is Oct. 20-21 in Zone 3.
In addition to providing places to hunt waterfowl, wetlands are pumped to provide habitat for migrating waterfowl and other water birds, to provide areas for people to observe wildlife, and to spread out the distribution of migrating birds to reduce the possibility of disease outbreaks.
The wetland condition and pumping plans information is updated periodically throughout the duck season. View the report at Outdoornebraska.gov/waterfowlchecklist. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for more information on waterfowl hunting and to purchase permits and stamps.
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LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in November. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes.
Nov. 1 – Late doe/fawn antelope season opens
Nov. 1 – Raccoon, opossum, long-tailed weasel, mink, red fox, gray fox and badger hunting and trapping seasons open
Nov. 1 – Muskrat and beaver trapping season opens
Nov. 3 – Turkey Trot, Wildcat Hills Nature Center, Gering
Nov. 3 – Candlelight Tour, Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP), Fort Calhoun
Nov. 3-4 – River Valley Artisan Craft Market, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP), Ashland
Nov. 5 – Woodcock hunting season closes
Nov. 5 – Tickets on Sale for Historical Christmas Dinner, Fort Robinson SP, Crawford
Nov. 5, 7 – Growing Up WILD Educator Workshop, Lincoln
Nov. 9 – Rail hunting season closes
Nov. 10-11 – Autumn Harvest Art Show, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland
Nov. 10-18 – Firearm deer, statewide buck seasons
Nov. 13 – Growing Up WILD Educator Workshop, Lincoln
Nov. 16-18, 23-25, 30 – Christmas at the Mansion, Arbor Lodge SHP, Nebraska City
Nov. 18 – Fort Robinson longhorn and buffalo sale, Crawford
Nov. 27 – Bighorn sheep hunting season opens