Bumpus' "Bites from our NGPC"

[Harold]

Fall Turkey Hunting Season Opens Sept. 15


LINCOLN, Neb. – Get ready turkey hunters; it is going to be a long season. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wants to remind those hunters used to an October opening that the fall season begins Sept. 15.
From Sept. 15-Dec. 31, holders of fall turkey hunting permits may pursue gobblers using either shotgun or archery equipment. Also, there is no need to suspend the hunt in November. They may hunt turkeys during the November firearm deer season, although they must wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange on their head, chest and back during the November firearm deer season.
The longer season and hunting in November are the two biggest changes to fall turkey hunting in 2009.
No longer are there separate archery and shotgun fall seasons, with permits required for each respective weapon. Hunters only need to purchase a fall turkey hunting permit, then may harvest turkeys with either equipment.
In 2008, 11,335 fall turkey permits were sold and 8,775 birds were taken. Those numbers are expected to increase dramatically this year due to the large population of birds and the liberalized season.
“Fall turkey population numbers should be outstanding,” according to Kit Hams, big game program manager for the Commission.
“We have a record adult population and good spring weather resulted in big increases in the Summer Rural Mail Carrier Survey,” he said. “The summer survey results were up 40 percent from 2008 and up 230 percent from 2002. The Panhandle and central Nebraska regions increased the most, but all regions showed an increase in turkey numbers. In general, the number of birds should be the best we’ve ever seen in most areas.”
Fall turkey permits allow the harvest of two birds of either sex and are valid statewide. Nebraska turkey permits costs $24 for residents, $91 for nonresidents, and up to two fall permits per hunter can be purchased online or at any Commission office. Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset.
For more information about turkey hunting regulations in Nebraska, go to OutdoorNebraska.org or pick up a copy of the 2009 Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting Seasons pamphlet, available at Commission offices and permit vendors across the state. Silhouette Championships Set for Sept. 26


LINCOLN, Neb. – All hunter education graduates who are at least 11 years old but have not graduated from high school are invited to compete in the 2009 Nebraska High School Small Bore Rifle Silhouette Championships.
The event will take place at 10 a.m. at the Pressey Wildlife Management Area south of Broken Bow on Sept. 26. Registration is from 7:30-9:30 a.m. Competition includes four-person teams in overall, high school, 4-H, and open categories.
Contact Shoot Director Matthew Haumont at (308) 872-2348 to register early. Participants must provide proof of hunter education certification. There is no charge to participants.
For more information, contact Haumont or Hunter Education Coordinator Mike Streeter of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at (402) 471-6134. Archery Deer Season Opens Sept. 15


LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska bowhunters, with bonus tags in tow, will take to the woods Sept. 15 for the opening of the archery deer hunting season.
Those bonus tags were added to statewide archery permits in 2008. Bowhunters responded by taking a record 7,440 deer last year, up from 4,854 in 2007.
The archery season is not the only one to open Sept. 15. Landowner, youth and season choice seasons also begin.
“We encourage all archers to use their bonus antlerless whitetail tags to help with the control of white-tailed deer,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “The Deer Exchange is available to those with too many deer for their own use.” Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for more information on the Deer Exchange.
The following is a summary of the seasons that open Sept. 15:
Archery – Season: Sept. 15-Nov. 13 and Nov. 23-Dec. 31; Open to: residents and nonresidents; Permit: residents, $30; nonresidents, $209; Hunting Area: statewide; Bag Limit: one deer of either sex, plus one antlerless whitetail; Weapon: longbows or compound bows that have a pull of at least 40 pounds at or before 28-inch draw.
Landowner – Season: Sept. 15-Jan. 15. 2010; Open to: residents and nonresidents; Permit: residents, $15.50, nonresidents, $105; Hunting Area: land owned or operated by the landowner and described on application; Bag Limit: one deer of either sex and one antlerless deer; Weapon: any legal weapon, provided the season is open for that weapon; Note: January season is antlerless only. Landowners in Season Choice Areas 18 and 21 also may hunt on their land with a firearm during the October Antlerless season, Oct. 9-11.
Youth – Season: Sept. 15-Jan. 15, 2010; Open to: residents and nonresidents ages 10-15; Permit: residents, $30; nonresidents, $209; Hunting Area: statewide; Bag Limit: one deer of either sex and one antlerless whitetail; Weapon: any legal weapon, provided the season is open for that weapon; Notes: January season is antlerless-only; youth age 16 may hunt with a youth permit provided they are 15 when they purchased the permit and not older than 15 on Sept. 15. Youth also may hunt in Season Choice Areas 18 and 21 during the October Antlerless season, Oct. 9-11.
Season Choice – Season: Sept. 15-Jan. 15, 2010; Open to: residents and nonresidents; Permit: residents, $30; nonresidents, $55; Hunting Area: permit only valid in area for which it was issued; Bag Limit: depends on area; Weapon: any legal weapon, provided the season is open for that weapon; Notes: January season is antlerless-only. Season Choice Area 18 and 21 permit holders also may hunt during the October Antlerless season, Oct. 9-11.
Holders of permits for landowner, youth and season choice seasons may hunt with:
-- legal archery equipment Sept. 15-Nov. 13 and Nov. 23-Dec. 31,
-- legal muzzleloaders Dec. 1-31,
-- legal firearms Nov. 14-22,
-- legal firearms Jan. 1-15, 2010 (antlerless only).
Permits may be purchased at Commission offices and at OutdoorNebraska.org. A habitat stamp is required of all deer hunters, except residents age 15 or younger. Nebraskans Reminded of Hunter Education Requirement


LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska hunters ages 12 through 29 are reminded they must successfully complete a hunter education course before hunting, depending on the type of hunting they will do this fall.
Those ages 12 through 29 must pass:
-- Firearm Hunter Education before hunting with a firearm or crossbow.
-- Bowhunter Education before hunting deer, antelope, elk, or bighorn sheep with a bow and arrow.
In both cases, hunters must carry with them while hunting proof they have completed a course.
Alternatives to the above courses are the independent study option and the Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate. Both are for ages 12 through 29.
The independent study option allows participants to study the course online, where instructions must be followed, at their own convenience. It requires the successful completion of a field day and exam.
The Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate is designed to give first-time hunters an opportunity to try hunting before deciding to complete hunter education. A hunter using this certificate must be accompanied at all times while hunting. Contact the nearest Commission office for more information. Hunter education classes are forming statewide. Go to OutdoorNebraska.org for more information or call the Hunter Education Office at (402) 471-5662.