Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners Set Hunting Seasons

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission set season dates and regulations for several 2004 hunting seasons, including mourning dove, snipe, rail, woodcock, grouse, pheasant, quail, partridge, furbearers, and fall turkey at a meeting in Lincoln July 8.

The commissioners rescinded the east and west quail zone designations and a statewide season was established for this years season.

A special waterfowl season for Nebraskas young duck and goose hunters was again authorized by the commissioners. The 2004 youth waterfowl hunting season will be Sept. 25-26. Special youth seasons were also established to allow young hunters to hunt pheasant, quail and partridge Oct. 30-31, a week prior to the opening of the regular seasons.

An early teal hunting season was approved by the commissioners and will be Sept. 11-19. The daily bag limit will be four teal of either sex and the possession limit will be eight.

In response to a number of complaints, primarily from residents of the metropolitan areas of Lincoln and Omaha, the commissioners approved an experimental early Canada goose hunting season in eastern Nebraska to help control increasing Canada goose populations. The experimental season will be Sept. 11-19. The daily bag limit will be five geese, the possession limit will be 10.

2004 Nebraska Small and Upland Game Seasons:

Species Season Dates Daily Possession

Rail Sept. 1 - Nov. 9 10 20

Snipe Sept. 1 - Dec. 16 8 16

Woodcock Sept. 25 - Nov. 8 3 6

Dove Sept. 1 - Oct. 30 15 30

Grouse

East Zone* Sept. 18 - Dec. 31* 3* 3*

*Special Permit Required to Hunt in East Zone

West Zone Sept. 18 - Dec. 31 3 12

Pheasant

General Nov. 6 - Jan. 31, 2005 3 12

Youth Oct. 30 - Oct. 31 2 4

Quail

General Nov. 6 - Jan. 31, 2005 6 24

Youth Oct. 30 - Oct. 31 2 4

Partridge

General Nov. 6 - Jan. 31, 2005 3 12

Youth Oct. 30- Oct. 31 2 4

Cottontail Rabbit Sept. 1 - Feb. 28, 2005 728

Squirrel Aug. 1 - Jan. 31, 2005 728

Jackrabbit Sept. 1 - Feb. 28, 2005 4 16

Youth Waterfowl Sept. 25 - Sept. 26 Same as General Season

Early Teal Season Sept. 11 - Sept. 19 4 8

Early Canada Goose Sept. 11 - Sept. 19 55 10

Early Falconry Duck Season

Low Plains Sept. 4 - Sept. 26 3 6

High Plains Sept. 11 - 19 and Sept. 25 - 26 3 6

2003 Fall Turkey Hunting Season:

Season Permits Season Dates Limit

Turkey (Archery) Unlimited Oct. 1 - Nov. 12 1 per permit

Turkey (Shotgun) Unlimited Oct. 23 - Nov. 12 1 per permit

2004 Nebraska Furbearer Seasons:

Trapping:

Beaver & Muskrat Nov. 1 - Mar. 31, 2005 No Limit

Hunting Only:

Early Raccoon & Opossum Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 No Limit

Trapping & Hunting:

Raccoon, Long-tailed Nov. 1 - Feb. 28. 2005 No Limit

Weasel, Opossum, Red

Fox, Gray Fox, Badger,

Mink

Bobcat Dec. 1 - Feb. 28, 2005 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

In other action the Commission:

– set August 27 as the date for a public hearing to consider amendments to hunting seasons and regulations pertaining to coots, ducks, geese, crow and falconry;

– set August 27 as the date for a public hearing to consider amendments to the firearm and archery hunting seasons and regulations pertaining to mountain sheep;

– approved removal of area regulations that prohibit hunting and other public use for an extended period of time at Bourdeaux Creek Wildlife Management Area following the close of the elk season to protect the elk from harassment while they winter there. The elk now winter over a larger area and no longer require protection. This change allows muzzleloaders to hunt deer on the area during the muzzleloading season;

– approved special regulations for horseback riding at Rock Glen Wildlife Management Area aimed at curbing conflicts between riders and other users at the area, and negative impact to the areas landscape;

– approved a request by the City of Wilcox for an easement at the Sacramento/Wilcox Wildlife Management Area for a municipal water well and the associated building and underground pipes necessary to provide water to the city, subject to approvals from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Nebraska Department of Water Quality, and the local Natural Resources District.