The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider approving a five-year plan to recruit, retain and reactivate outdoor enthusiasts at its Oct. 21 meeting in Broken Bow.
If approved, the 2023-2037 Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Plan would provide goals, objectives and strategies that would help Game and Parks to engage outdoor participants in outdoor opportunities.
The staff-written plan has goals of increasing and reactivating participation in boating, fishing, hunting, parks, and shooting sports, retaining current participants, and maintaining support for conservation and recreation.
The meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the Broken Bow Public Library Meeting Room, 626 S. D St.
Commissioners also will consider a recommendation to change wildlife regulations that would:
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add the Pine Ridge Mule Deer Conservation Area to the list of draw units, add nonresident antelope archery permit to the list of antelope draw permits, and allow nonresident archery antelope hunters to either apply for a preference point or the archery permit;
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add turkeys to the list of animals that must be checked within 48 hours of being harvested; and
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add language to allow hunters, beginning with the 2023 spring season, to cancel and check their electronic turkey permits on their mobile devices immediately after harvest.
Commissioners will consider a recommendation to change fisheries regulations to simplify the application process for Special Fishing Permits for disabled anglers and allow annual renewals to be purchased through the online permit system.
They also will consider changes to Sportfishing Orders that would:
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add Ansley Lake, Flanagan Lake, Alda DOT, Birdwood WMA, East Sutherland WMA and remove Victoria Springs Lake SRA from the waters that require a 21-inch minimum length on black bass;
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change the location designated on the Republican River above Harlan County Reservoir for bag limits on channel catfish and size limits on walleye, sauger and saugeye;
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remove the catch-and-release designation for Flanagan Lake, establish a no-harvest restriction on northern pike, and create maximum length limits for bluegill, redear sunfish and crappie; and
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add walleye to the species prohibited to have in possession on Lonergan Creek at Lake McConaughy and add Otter Creek to the restrictions and establish the timeframe of April 1 through June 30.
Commissioners also will consider proposed changes to assorted boating regulations regarding references to personal floatation devices, vessel weight limits, and updating lists of water bodies for wake/no wake rules and boating hours, towing and other boating safety restrictions. Learn more by reading the Public Hearing Notice at OutdoorNebraska.gov/pubicnotices.
In other business, the commissioners will hear reports on Game and Parks’ Capital Maintenance Fund, an update on the fall season in the state parks, and a report on a fisheries project in Kearney.