Changes for next year

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Lincoln, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners made changes in big game permit regulations and slight increases in park entry permit fees at a meeting Oct. 25, at Fort Robinson State Park.

Following a public hearing, the commissioners voted to make changes in several wildlife regulations that will be of interest to hunters. Beginning in 2007:

– hunters will be allowed to purchase three turkey permits for the spring turkey season rather than the previous limit of two;

– there will be an unlimited number of statewide November firearm season buck- only permits available to residents and nonresidents during the same time period to help meet the demand for permits;

-- deer hunters will be able to apply for permits much earlier in the year than ever before to help them plan their hunting trips. The new permit application period schedule will be: Period 1 – Jan. 3- April 13 -- residents and nonresidents will be able to buy one statewide permit – statewide buck-only, archery, muzzleloader, or youth; Period 2 – April 16-May 4 – open to residents only to apply for permits in Draw units; Period 3 – June 11-close of season – open to residents and nonresidents to buy any remaining permits.

– approved the sale of one elk lottery permit and one elk auction permit to be used statewide in established elk units. The lottery permit application process and drawing will be handled by the Commission, the 2007 auction permit will be handled by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

Increases in park entry permit fees effective Jan. 1, 2007, were passed by the commissioners. The new fees will be $20 for the annual permit; $10 for the annual duplicate permit; and $4 for the daily permit.

The commissioners also:

– approved a resolution stating the Commission’s endorsement and support of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program which will help protect the state’s public-trust natural resources;

– approved a resolution indicating the Commission’s support for a grant application from the Transportation Enhancement Program for the purpose of developing the Fort Kearny Hike-Bike Trail;

– voted to acquire the 100.5 acre Noble tract of wildlife land in Lancaster County to be managed for wildlife diversity and limited hunting as an addition to Little Salt Creek Wildlife Management Area near Raymond;

– approved a request by the Corps of Engineers for an easement at Randall W. Schilling Wildlife Management Area in Cass County to allow them to construct, establish, operate and maintain the Missouri River Bank Stabilization and Navigation Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Project;

– approved a recommendation to limit boats to 5 miles per hour/no wake at Cottontail Lake near Martell in Lancaster County, Meadowlark Lake near Agnew in Seward County, and Timber Point Lake near Brainard in Butler County, to prevent the wake and wash of boats from causing discomfort, hazard, injury or damage to persons, vessels and property. A recommendation that Goose Lake WMA near Bartlett in Holt County have the same limitation was tabled until the next Commission meeting;

– approved changes to waterfowl hunting regulations at Sacramento-Wilcox WMA near Wilcox to allow youth hunting seasons.