Nebraska Games &
Parks News
2006 HIP registration is
required to hunt migratory birds this fall
Lincoln, Neb. -- Beginning August 1
hunters will be able to register with the federally mandated
Harvest Information Program (HIP) by computer or phone to
receive a new HIP number, which they must carry with them when
hunting any migratory game birds -- dove, ducks geese, snipe,
rail, coots or woodcock -- during the 2006 hunting seasons. The
new number will remain valid through June 30, 2007.
The goal of the program is to help state
and federal wildlife managers estimate the number of migratory
birds harvested each year. Those estimates help biologists set
limits and seasons, as well as help protect the tradition of
hunting. The lack of information on hunting’s effect on wildlife
has been used in court to challenge hunting in some states. HIP
information is needed to counter the claims by those who would
shut down migratory bird hunting seasons.
Registration is required of all
migratory bird hunters, including residents, nonresidents,
lifetime permit holders, veteran and senior permit holders. Only
resident hunters under the age of 16 are exempted from
registration. Registered hunters are assigned a number which
they must carry with them while hunting.
Registration is free, easy and takes
less than five minutes whether done online or by phone.
To register online anytime, day or
night, go to www.Nehip.com. To register by phone, call the HIP
24-hour, toll-free number, 1-888-403-2473. The system can handle
many calls simultaneously, so there shouldn’t be a wait, but
hunters should register early to avoid the anticipated rush as
dove season approaches.
Nebraska hunters should be aware that if
they hunt migratory birds in another state they must also
register with HIP in that state, and nonresident hunters coming
here to hunt migratory game birds must register in Nebraska.
Mandatory boating education
classes set for 14- to 17-year-olds
Lincoln, Neb. – Classes are now
forming for 14- to 17-year-olds who must successfully complete a
boating safety course before operating a boat or personal
watercraft in Nebraska.
Everyone under 18 years of age who wants
to operate a boat, including personal watercraft, must have
successfully completed a boating safety course and have a valid
boating safety certificate in his or her possession, according
to Herb Angell, Nebraska Boating Law Administrator.
Angell says Nebraska law allows only
people 18 years of age and older to operate boats, including
personal watercraft, in Nebraska waters. The only exception is
for people ages 14 to 18 who have satisfactorily completed a
boating safety course approved by the Commission and who have a
valid boating safety certificate in their possession.
Nebraska recognizes the successful
completion of certified boating safety courses in other states.
It is important to note that completion of the Home Study
Boating Education Course does not fulfill personal watercraft
education requirements for persons under 18 years.
Here are the latest additions to the
growing list of Boating Education classes scheduled across the
state. For information regarding classes, contact your local
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission office or check on the
Boating page at www.OutdoorNebraska.org. Additional information
will be posted as it is received, so check often to learn about
new classes forming in your area.
Newly scheduled classes include:
August 5, 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. – Lincoln
Willard Community Center, 1245 Folsom,
to register contact Mary Poe, 402-540-3113, $10 registration
fee.
August 4, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. – Bridgeport
Prairie Winds Community Center, to
register contact Scott Eveland, (308) 289-0017, no registration
fee.
Nebraska two-day
nonresident hunting permits available
Lincoln, Neb. – A Nebraska two-day
nonresident small game hunting permit available for only $36
makes it easy and affordable for nonresidents visiting friends
or family during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season
to enjoy hunting in Nebraska.
The two-day permit is an alternative to
an annual nonresident hunting permit for hunters who will be the
field for just a couple of days. The $13 annual Nebraska Habitat
Stamp will be required. The permit will allow nonresidents to
hunt small game on two consecutive days between the fourth
Wednesday in November (Nov. 22 this year) and Dec. 31 of the
same calendar year. An individual may purchase only one
nonresident two-day small game hunting permit per year.
The permits may be purchased Nov. 1
through Dec. 31 at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission web
site, www.OutdoorNebraska.org, and at Commission offices in
Lincoln, Omaha, the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Alliance, Bassett,
Kearney, Norfolk, and North Platte.
Commission sets fall turkey, early
waterfowl hunting seasons
Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission set the 2006 fall turkey hunting and
early waterfowl hunting seasons at a July 19 meeting in Lincoln.
The dates for this year’s fall statewide
archery turkey season will be Oct. 1 through Nov. 10 and Nov. 20
through Dec. 31. The shotgun season will be Oct. 14 through Nov.
10 and Nov. 20 through Dec. 31.
The jackrabbit season will be Sept. 1
through Feb. 28, 2007, except the season will be closed east of
U.S. Highway 81. In the open area west of U.S. Highway 81 the
daily bag will be 4, the possession limit 16.
An early teal hunting season was
approved by the commissioners and will be Sept. 9-24 in the Low
Plains unit and Sept. 9 -17 in the High Plains unit. The daily
bag limit will be four teal of either sex and the possession
limit will be eight.
The special waterfowl season for
Nebraska’s young duck and goose hunters was again authorized by
the commissioners. The 2006 youth waterfowl hunting season will
be Sept. 30 - Oct 1.
In response to a number of complaints,
primarily from residents of the metropolitan areas of Lincoln
and Omaha, the commissioners again approved an experimental
early Canada goose hunting season in eastern Nebraska to help
control increasing Canada goose populations.
The 2006 Nebraska Season Dates:
Species Season Dates Daily Possession
Rail Sept. 1 - Nov. 9 10 20
Snipe Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 8 16
Woodcock Sept. 23 - Nov. 6 3 6
Dove Sept. 1 - Oct. 30 15 30
Grouse
East Zone* Sept. 16 - Dec. 31* 3* 3*
*Special Permit Required to Hunt in East
Zone
West Zone Sept. 16 - Dec. 31 3 12
Pheasant
General Oct. 28 - Jan. 31, 2007 3 12
Youth Oct. 21 - 22 2 4
Quail
General Oct. 28 - Jan. 31, 2007 6 24
Youth Oct. 21 - 22 2 4
Partridge
General Oct. 28 - Jan. 31, 2007 3 12
Youth Oct. 21- 22 2 4
Cottontail Rabbit Sept. 1 - Feb. 28,
2007 728
Squirrel Aug. 1 - Jan. 31, 2007 728
Jackrabbit Sept. 1 - Feb. 28, Closed
east of U.S. 81 416
Youth Waterfowl Sept. 30 - Oct. 1 Same
as General Season
Early Teal Season Low Plains Sept. 9 -24
4 8 High Plains Sept. 9 - 17 4 8
Early Canada Goose Sept. 9-19 5 10
Early Falconry Duck Season
Low Plains Sept. 2-24 3 6
High Plains Sept. 9-17 and Sept. 30 -
Oct. 1 3 6
2006 Fall Turkey Hunting Season:
Season Permits Season Dates Limit
Turkey (Archery) Unlimited Oct. 1 - Nov.
10 and Nov. 20 - Dec. 31 1 per permit
Turkey (Shotgun) Unlimited Oct. 14 -
Nov. 10 and Nov. 20 - Dec. 31 1 per permit
2006 Nebraska Furbearer Seasons:
Trapping:
Beaver & Muskrat Nov. 1 - Mar. 31, 2007
No Limit
Hunting Only:
Early Raccoon & Opossum Sept. 1 - Oct.
31 No Limit
Trapping & Hunting:
Raccoon, Long-tailed Nov. 1 - Feb. 28,
2007 No Limit
Weasel, Opossum, Red
Fox, Gray Fox, Badger,
Mink
Bobcat Dec. 1 - Feb. 28, 2007 No Limit
Striped Skunk Open Year-Round No Limit
Running:
Raccoon & Opossum Mar. 1 - Aug. 31 No
Kill
Bobcat Mar. 1 - Nov. 30 No Kill
Red Fox Mar. 1 - Oct. 31 No Kill
The Commissioners also:
-- set Aug. 30 as the date for a public
hearing pertaining to fishing regulations;
– set Aug. 30 as the date for public
hearing to consider amendments to hunting seasons and
regulations pertaining to coots, ducks, geese, crow and
falconry;
– approved the gift of a 202-acre Heald
tract of land in Dixon County from the Conservation Fund to be
an addition to Ponca State Park;
– approved an increase in the cost of
park entry permits from $17 to $20 for the annual permit; from
$8.50 to $10 for the duplicate annual permit and from $3 to $4
for the daily permit;
– approved the Avian Influenza Plan for
Surveillance in Nebraska;
– approved the Management Plan for
Resident Canada Geese in Nebraska;
– approved boundary changes to two
Nebraska duck hunting zones:
1.) Knox County -- move the Low Plains
Late Zone boundary from the Knox County line southeast to the
Niobrara River then to Neb. Hwy 12.
2.) Nemaha and Richardson counties --
move the Low Plains Late Zone boundary at Brownville (U.S.
Highway 136) west to U.S. Highway 75 at Auburn, south to the
Kansas state line.
3.) Franklin, Webster and Nuckolls
counties – move the Low Plains Late Zone boundary at U.S.
Highway 136 and Neb. Highway 10 at Franklin eastward to U.S.
Highway 136 and Neb. Highway 14 at Superior, south to the Kansas
state line.
4.) Hamilton County -- move the Low
Plains Early Zone line west from Neb. Highway 14 at County Road
22 (at Marquette) west along Platte River to County Road M,
south to County Road 21, west to County Road K to U.S. Highway
34 at Murphy.
5.) Garfield, Valley, Greeley and
Wheeler counties -- move the Low Plains Late Zone boundary at
Neb. Highway 91 at Burwell, southeast along Neb. Highway 11 to
Neb. Highway 22 near Scotia, east to U.S. Highway 281, north to
Neb. Highway 91.
6.) Loup County – move
the Low Plains Late Zone boundary west from the intersection of
Neb. Highway 91 and U.S. Highway 183 along Neb. Highway 91 to
the Loup/Blaine county line, north to the Loup/Brown county
line, east along the Loup County line to the current boundary at
U.S. Highway 183.
