Join resource professionals for a discussion of prairie strips and their benefits during the Farming with Prairie Strips event June 17 south of Craig, Nebraska.

The public is invited to this free event, from 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., which will include a look into the practicality and economics of prairie strips. It will include producer testimonials and a review of program options for those interested.

The event begins at the farm of Ed and Leta Olson at 1525 County Road A, with sign-in, a brief introduction, then a field tour to existing Conservation Reserve Program sites.

Lunch will be provided at Logan View High School located at 2163 County Road G, Hooper, where afternoon presentations will take place.

Register at nebraskapf.com/habitat-tours or call Rob Peterson at 402-838-3022. Direct any questions to [email protected].

Prairie strips are planted native prairie grasses or wildflowers that act as in-field contour buffers or edge-of-field strips. They protect soil and water while providing habitat for wildlife and perform better than other vegetation types. According to Iowa State University, which has been the leader in prairie strip research for 15 years, the strips can reduce sediment movement and phosphorous and nitrogen runoff from farm fields.

The event is coordinated by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Pheasants Forever, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District. The agencies aim to replicate prairie strip successes in Iowa to Nebraska.

Public urged to leave wildlife babies alone

Seeing young wild animals, such as deer, possums, ducks, rabbits and song birds, alone is common this time of year. Though the inclination may be to intervene, the best choice is to leave the animal alone.

Here are some rules of thumb from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission regarding wildlife babies:

BIRDS

Young non-feathered birds and nests with eggs discovered on the ground should be placed back in the tree. Baby birds covered in feathers found on the ground are being tended to by their parents; leave them alone.

DEER

A lone fawn may appear to be abandoned or injured, but the mother frequently is off feeding or drinking. Do not move it. The longer the fawn is separated from its mother, the slimmer the chance it will be reunited with her.

Know it is normal for a doe to leave its fawn to keep it from being detected by predators. Predators can see the doe as it feeds, so she leaves the fawn hidden and leaves the area to draw attention away from the fawn’s location.

RABBITS

Baby rabbits are left unattended through much of the day and night. Mother cottontails do this to prevent drawing predators to the nest.

Do not try to raise wildlife babies as pets. As animals mature, they become more independent and follow natural instincts to leave and establish their own territories. Rescued animals are poorly prepared for life in the wild.

Keep in mind: Most wildlife babies are protected by state or federal law, and it is illegal to possess them.

Big game draw permit application period now open

Residents and nonresidents may apply for a draw status Nebraska deer permit in mule deer conservation areas June 2-13. 

Residents may purchase a preference point or apply for one of the following deer permits: Platte Any Deer and Frenchman Any Deer.

Nonresidents may purchase a preference point or apply for one deer permit in the following: Sandhills Any Deer, Upper Platte Any Deer, Plains Any Deer, Calamus West Any Deer, Pine Ridge MDCA, Frenchman MDCA, Platte MDCA, Republican MDCA, Buffalo MDCA, Loup West Any Deer, Archery Deer and Muzzleloader Deer.

Residents may purchase a preference point or apply for one antelope permit in the following: Banner North, Banner South, Box Butte East, Box Butte West, Cherry, Cheyenne, Dismal, Eastern Sandhills, Garden, North Sioux, Prairie Muzzleloader and North Sioux Muzzleloader. Nonresidents may apply for an archery antelope permit. Residents also may apply for a general elk permit.

An antelope preference point and an elk bonus point may be purchased in lieu of participating in the drawing.

The application period opened at 10 a.m. Central time June 2. Applications must be received by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission by 5 p.m. Central time —  or by 11:59 p.m. for online applications — on June 13. One application is allowed per person per species.

Draws are used to provide equal opportunity to obtain high demand permits. Resident and nonresidents are separated in the drawing, with at least 85% of permits reserved for residents.

Applications may be made at OutdoorNebraska.gov, via application form in the 2025 Big Game Guide, or in person at a Game and Parks permitting office. A list of offices is in the Big Game Guide.

Results of the draw will be available June 20.

Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov, which includes a digital version of the Big Game Guide, for more information.

Find video tutorials to navigate the draw at YouTube.com/@NebraskaGameandParksCommission in the “Permits” playlist.

Game and Parks’ Alliance office to move temporarily

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s northwest district office in Alliance will operate out of a new location starting June 16.

The office, currently at 299 Husker Road, will move into the strip mall at 1317 W. Third St. Hours of operation and the office’s phone number will remain the same.

The temporary move allows Game and Parks to build a new service center with a biological laboratory at the Husker Road site. The old building’s infrastructure was significantly failing.

Construction is expected to take a year.

Game and Parks operates district offices or service centers throughout the state. Learn more about OutdoorNebraska.gov/about/our-locations.

2025 Fishing Guide updated online

The 2025 Fishing Guide has been updated online to reflect regulation changes regarding aquatic invasive species and bait collecting.

The changes include:

• fisheries regulations relating to aquatic invasive species, including listing invasive species, inspections, decontamination, impoundments and restriction; and
• fisheries regulations regarding rules relating to bait collection by anglers and bait dealers, including listing of legal bait species, harvest methods and limits.

The updated guide is available for download at OutdoorNebraska.gov; search “Fishing Guide.”

Dogs temporarily restricted on WMAs

Nebraska Game and Parks reminds outdoors enthusiasts that dogs are not allowed on state wildlife management areas from May 1 through July 31, except in “authorized dog training areas.”

The seasonal restriction aims to protect wildlife during breeding and nesting season.

Authorized dog training areas are marked by signage; other than in these designated areas, it is unlawful to exercise, run, train or hunt with dogs on the property.

Game and Parks manages more than 250 WMAs across Nebraska in partnership with state and federal partners. These areas are maintained to provide quality habitat, so native and migratory species have a safe place to breed, rest and feed.

While WMAs are open year-round for hunting, trapping, fishing and other outdoor activities, Game and Parks staff urge everyone to follow these guidelines to contribute to conservation efforts that are in balance with recreation needs.

Learn more about WMAs or dog training regulations at OutdoorNebraska.gov; search “WMA.”

Calamus SRA campground, boat ramp to reopen

The Nunda Shoal boat ramp at Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area has reopened to visitors following the completion of an extensive construction project.

The Nunda Shoal campground will reopen June 6, once final maintenance is complete. Starting at 9 a.m. Central time that day, visitors can make reservations for the remainder of the 2025 season at OutdoorNebraska.gov.

This marks the final phase of a nearly year-long project to improve the park’s campgrounds, roadways, and boat ramp parking areas. The upgrades also brought the area into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

For more information on Calamus Reservoir SRA, including campsite availability and updates, call the park office at 308-346-5666.

Commissioners to consider 2026 mountain lion season

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2026 mountain lion hunting season at its June 13 meeting in Sidney.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. Mountain time at the Country Inn and Suites, 664 Chase Blvd.

Staff will recommend a mountain lion season in the Pine Ridge, Niobrara and Wildcat Hills units, with adjusted harvest limits compared to the 2025 season.

The harvest limit in the Niobrara Unit would increase to a maximum of six mountain lions, with a sublimit of three females; the maximum harvest in the Wildcat Hills Unit would decrease to two, with a sublimit of one female; and the harvest limit in the Pine Ridge Unit would remain at 12 with a sublimit of six females.

Adjusted harvest limits are based on changes in mountain lion populations in the units, with the Niobrara population likely expanding, and the Wildcat Hills population likely significantly reduced compared to the previous season due to a high number of documented mortalities from various causes in that unit.

The objective for each unit is to provide a harvest opportunity for mountain lions that allows the population to remain resilient and healthy, while reducing the population in the Pine Ridge, keeping the population stable or slowing growth in the Niobrara Valley, and maintaining the present population in the Wildcat Hills.

Season 1 in all three units would take place Jan. 2, 2026, through the end of February. The season would end immediately in a unit if the annual harvest limit or female sub-limit were reached.

Up to 960 permits could be issued by lottery in the Pine Ridge Unit, up to 480 permits in the Niobrara Unit, and up to 160 permits in the Wildcat Hills Unit. Permits are available to residents only.

An auxiliary season that allows the use of dogs would be March 14-March 31, 2026, if the annual harvest limit or female sub-limit were not reached during Season 1 in any unit, and also would close immediately if either the limit or female sublimit for the unit is met. A number of permits equal to the number of lions remaining in the limit would be issued by lottery to unsuccessful permit holders from that unit who apply for the auxiliary season.

Staff also will recommend the Commission approve to modify Duck Zones and Goose Units for submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Changes would not become effective until the 2026-27 waterfowl season. Recommendations are based on federal criteria in conjunction with feedback from hunters who gave input on boundaries and their proposed modifications in 2024 and 2025.

In other business, commissioners will hear about the agency’s website and recent improvements; a report on Memorial Day weekend in Nebraska state parks and an outlook for summer; and updates on agency projects and programs in the Panhandle region.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “public notices.” To view proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders, search for “regulations.” To read the waterfowl recommendations, search for “waterfowl rezoning process.”