NEBRASKA /A.P. SPORTS
NEBRASKA PHEASANT HUNTING SEASON OPENS SATURDAY
By GAME AND PARKS NEWS RELEASE
Oct 22, 2007, 13:34

Nebraska’s 2007-2008 pheasant season opens Saturday, October 27 through January 31, 2008 and Todd Nordeen, district wildlife manager at the Game and Parks Commission’s district office in Alliance expects hunters will see bird numbers and habitat conditions similar to last year’s pheasant season.

“The impact of the drought is continuing and we’ve seen a slight reduction in production of pheasants here in the Panhandle this spring and early summer, resulting in a 22 percent reduction in the August roadside pheasant surveys and 10 percent in the rural mail carrier’s survey. At the same time, parts of the Panhandle did receive timely, but spotty moisture throughout the year, and areas with good habitat should offer improved hunting.”

According to Nordeen, the Box Butte table in the central Panhandle showed improved hunting success in 2006 and should offer some of the Panhandle’s best pheasant hunting in 2007.

“Some of the Conservation Reserve Program acres (CRP) and CRP- Management Access Program fields have been mowed or grazed during the drought. The corn harvest appears to be well underway, which should provide improved hunting access and success.”

Hunters are reminded that landowner permission is required before entering private land for any reason. Nordeen added that unters should also be careful with fire sources, including where they park vehicles.

Grouse season in the west zone that includes the Panhandle is open from September 15 through December 31 and pheasant hunters may have an opportunity to harvest grouse, especially on CRP and CRP-MAP access fields and areas bordering traditional Sandhill grasslands.

“Hunters should be careful to positively identify grouse from hen pheasants, but the overlapping seasons provide a good opportunity for a mixed-bag hunt,” he said.

The 2007-2008 pheasant season is open from October 27 through January 31. Daily bag limit of 3 roosters and a possession limit of 12 cock pheasants. Pheasants, grouse and turkeys must have head or one leg attached for identification purposes while in the field and returning home.

For more information on the CRP-MAP fields in the Panhandle and the rest of Nebraska, consult the 2007 CRP-Management Access Program Atlas available from local permit vendors and the district office of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and online at www.OutdoorNebraska.org


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