Input Sought on Nebraska Waterfowl Regulations

Input Sought on Nebraska Waterfowl Regulations

LINCOLN, Neb. – -(AmmoLand.com)- A public hearing regarding waterfowl hunting seasons will be conducted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Board of Commissioners at its July 17 meeting at the Commission’s Lincoln headquarters.

Staff will provide information and present possible changes in waterfowl regulations at the meeting, and Commissioners will receive public input. Public input may be provided in person or submitted in writing.

“Public input from the July 17 Commission meeting will be instrumental in developing the final amendments to be considered by the Commission for adoption at its Aug. 28 meeting,” said Jim Douglas, the Commission’s wildlife division administrator.

Amendments being considered so far are similar to last year’s. The most notable changes are to the season length and buffer area for Zone 2 of the Light Goose Conservation Action. The Zone 2 season length could be reduced from 72 days to 55, and beginning on March 11, its buffer zone could be reduced to within 3 miles of the Platte River channel instead of 5 miles.

Final information and allowable waterfowl frameworks from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are pending.

The following are preliminary Commission staff recommendations for the 2009 waterfowl hunting seasons:

• Early Teal: Low Plains: Sept. 12-27 (16 days); High Plains: Sept. 12-20 (9 days)
• Early Canada Goose: Sept. 12-20
• Youth Waterfowl Hunt: Oct. 3-4

Duck and Coot:
Low Plains Early: Oct. 10-Dec. 20 and Dec. 26-27; Low Plains Late: Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-Jan. 3; High Plains: Oct. 10-Jan. 13

Pintail and Canvasback (39-day season):
Low Plains Early and High Plains: Oct. 10-Nov. 17; Low Plains Late: Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-Nov. 29

Dark Goose
East Unit: Oct. 24-Jan. 27; North Central Unit: Oct. 10-Jan. 22; Platte River Unit: Oct. 24-Feb. 5; Panhandle Unit: Nov. 7-Feb. 5; Niobrara Unit: Oct. 24-Feb. 5

White-fronted Goose
Statewide: Oct. 10-Dec. 20

Light Goose
Regular Season (Statewide) – Oct. 10-Jan. 8 and Jan. 23-Feb. 5

Conservation Action – Zone 1: Feb. 6-April 18; Zone 2: Feb. 6-April 1; Zone 3: Feb. 6-April 18

Crow
Statewide: Oct. 1-Nov. 15 and Jan. 20-April 6
Special Public Health Hazard Order: Nov. 16-Jan. 19

Falconry
Early Season – Low Plains: Sept. 1-30 and concurrent with teal season dates within Low Plains Early and Late zones; High Plains: Concurrent with teal season dates within the High Plains zone

Regular Season – Low Plains Early: Oct. 10-Dec. 20 and Dec. 26-27; Low Plains Late: Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-Jan. 3; High Plains: Oct. 10-Jan. 13