The Nebraska Park and Game Commission will consider staff recommendations for the 2023 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons when it meets April 19 in Fremont.
The meeting will begin at 8 am at the Holiday Inn Express, 2415 N. Lincoln Ave.
A public hearing is scheduled for proposed amendments to the Commission’s orders related to season dates, bag limits, quantities allowed, and open areas for hunting deer, antelope, and elk. The changes will help the agency manage big game populations to socially acceptable levels.
The staff will recommend:
- remove 40 general permits for both sexes and 155 general permits for doe/fawn antelope,
- including archery season on all mule deer conservation area permits, making them valid for all open seasons,
- prohibit the taking of antlerless mule deer statewide on all lands open to public hunting, except lands in the Open Range and Water Program,
- Reduce permit quota for either-sex deer and non-resident buck to 10,000, excluding landowner and youth permits,
- reduce the non-resident bow deer permit fee to 3,000 and make it invalid for mule deer on MDCA,
- reduce the nonresident muzzleloader permit quota to 1,000,
- create a new Plains Whitetail Firearm Deer Permit,
- reduce November available firearm permits by 5.2% and antlerless-only seasonal choice permits by 7.4%,
- restructuring Of Moose Management Units,
- adding 36 buck moose permits and 214 antlerless moose permits,
- minor adjustments to other deer, elk and antelope permits to meet management objectives.
The commissioners will also consider passing a Board Resolution to apply for Transportation Alternatives Program grant funds through the Nebraska Department of Transportation to pave 24.6 miles of the Cowboy Trail from Rushville west to milepost 400.
In other matters, the commissioners will consider:
- NDOT permanent and temporary easement applications for work on Nebraska Highway 7 in Ainsworth and the temporary Cowboy Trail bypass there, and
- a staff recommendation to designate Phillips Canyon and Midway Lake, both located near Johnson Lake State Recreation Area in Dawson County, as state recreation areas. Both are located on the Supply Canal and are operated by the Central Public Power and Irrigation District.
There will also be a review of the 2022-2023 river otter season and an overview of the Northeast Region by regional staff.
For a complete schedule, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for Public Notices.