Hunters may begin purchasing 2025 Nebraska fall turkey permits at 1 p.m. Central time Aug. 11.

A fall turkey permit is valid statewide, and each hunter may have no more than one fall permit per calendar year. Also:

  • The fall bag limit allows the take of one turkey of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment.
  • Fall turkey permits are valid only for the year they are purchased.
  • All turkey harvests must be reported via Telecheck. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/hunt/telecheck/.
  • The fall turkey season is Oct. 1-Nov. 30.
  • Permit prices are $30 for residents, $143 for nonresidents, $8 for youth, $16.50 for resident landowners, and $73 for nonresident landowners.

Visit the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s permitting site, GoOutdoorsNE.com, or a permitting office to purchase permits starting Aug. 11.

For more information on turkey hunting in Nebraska, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov. View the 2025 Turkey Guide on the website.

Game and Parks wins 10 awards at annual ACI conference

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission earned 10 awards at the Association for Conservation Information annual conference July 21-24 in Atlantic City, N.J. The awards recognized excellence in outreach, education and communications for the prior year.

ACI is a nonprofit organization of natural resources communicators representing wildlife conservation and parks and natural resource agencies. Its annual awards contest recognizes excellence and promotes craft improvement through peer critiques.

The awards are:

First place

  • Communications Campaign: Marketing, for Beneath Nebraska Skies, fishing awareness campaign, by Game and Parks communications team, coordinated by Jane Gustafson, and Swanson Russell.

Second place

  • Audio Program or Podcast, for Panhandle Afield: Bluebirds, by Justin Haag.
  • Photography: People, for Hunting with My Friends, by Jeff Kurrus.
  • Photography: Studio/Enhanced, for Milkweed Sunrise, by Justin Haag.
  • Poster, for Insects of Nebraska, by Donna Schimonitz and Kelly Ekue.
  • One-time Publication: Other, for Slowpoke Cider, by Mel Severin and Monica Macoubrie, in collaboration with Glacial Till Vineyard.

Third place

  • One-time Publication: Other, for A Pocket Guide to Nebraska Reptiles, by Monica Macoubrie, Donna Schimonitz and Andrew Faughn.
  • Photography: Scenic, for Smiley Canyon Sunrise, by Justin Haag.
  • Photography: Flora and Fauna, for Pronghorns in the Frost, by Justin Haag.
  • Website, for Nebraskaland Magazine, by Shawna Richter-Ryerson, Kristin Carder, Jenny Wheatley, Mel Severin, and Nebraskaland Magazine contributors.

“Connecting Nebraskans to conservation and outdoor recreation is essential to our mission,” said Christy Firestone, Game and Parks’ communications director. “Our talented and enthusiastic team collaborates and works in creative ways to educate, engage and inform people about natural resources, and ways to get involved in conservation and have fun in the outdoors.

Kuhn retiring from Game and Parks on Oct. 1

Roger Kuhn, assistant director of program development at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is retiring Oct. 1 after nearly 45 years with the agency.

Kuhn, a native of Louisville, Nebraska, has been instrumental to the agency and the state parks system throughout his career. He built and maintained relationships with donors and corporate, community, political and philanthropic leaders across the state, ultimately raising tens of millions of dollars and securing support vital to the success of Game and Parks.

Kuhn is most well-known for his work to develop Eugene T. Mahoney State Park — the state’s newest state park — and for successfully leading the Commission’s largest private-public fundraising effort to date: the Nebraska Outdoor Venture Parks project.

Kuhn raised nearly $30 million in private donations for the Venture Parks project to expand activities and amenities in four popular start parks and recreation areas along the Platte River. The work at Mahoney State Park, Platte River State Park, Schramm Park State Recreation Area and Louisville State Recreation Area was completed in 2024.

Kuhn has worked as the agency’s primary fundraiser since 2014, developing strong relationships and unique partnerships across the state. He also has worked closely since 1983 with the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation on many targeted fundraising efforts.

A few of those include the:

  • Development of Mahoney and Smith Falls state parks; Fort Atkinson, Bowring, Rock Creek Station, and Ashfall state historical parks; the Wildcat Hills Nature and Education Center and shooting range; the Platte River State Park shooting range; and the Lake McConaughy Visitor and Water Interpretive Center.
  • Redevelopment of Ponca State Park and its aquatic center, as well as Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area and Niobrara State Park;
  • Reconstruction of the Buffalo Barracks and the 1891 Officers’ Quarters at Fort Robinson State Park;
  • Acquisition of additional property at Ponca, Platte River, Mahoney, Kearney, and Ashfall; and
  • Creation of the Half-Price Youth Lifetime Permit program.

“Roger’s authentic leadership and close work with the Foundation have resulted in many successes bringing new and improved outdoor recreational opportunities across Nebraska,” said Tim McCoy, Game and Parks’ director. “These outdoor spaces are places where our residents and visitors are creating memories today and will enjoy far into the future.”

Kuhn started working for the Commission’s Parks Division in 1981. Six years later, he developed the newly acquired property near Ashland into Mahoney State Park, where he served as park superintendent until 1993. During his time with the agency, Kuhn also served as administrative assistant to Director Eugene Mahoney and as the east regional parks manager, Parks Division Administrator and as Assistant Director.

For the past 43 years, Kuhn also has served as the coordinator of the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation’s annual fundraising event, the Royal Game Dinner, and since 2014, as a commissioner for the Nebraska Tourism Commission, a position he was reappointed to this spring by Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen.

“I am blessed and proud to have had the opportunity to give back, serve and help do great things for my home state,” said Kuhn. “I am forever grateful and privileged to have worked throughout my career with literally thousands of amazing people who have made Nebraska a better place for all.”

Kuhn expressed deep gratitude to all his Game and Parks colleagues — from restroom cleaners and garbage collectors (of which Kuhn was when he started with the agency) to commissioners — as well as the philanthropic, corporate and political communities who generously supported the agency and contributed to its success.

“There is no better feeling than seeing people from all walks of life enjoying the places and opportunities Game and Parks made possible through partnerships, collaboration and generous financial support of private donors,” he said. “Being a part of the creation of many new facilities, properties, programs and opportunities that have improved the quality of life of the millions of people we serve each year is something I will always hold dear to my heart.”

Now is the time to enroll in a hunter education class

Certified volunteer hunter and bowhunter education instructors across Nebraska host classes throughout the year, but late summer and early fall are when most classes are offered.

Hunters ages 12 through 29 must take firearm hunter education to hunt any species with a firearm or air gun, and bowhunters age 12 through 29 must take bowhunter education to hunt deer, antelope, elk or bighorn sheep with a bow or crossbow.

Participants must be at least 11 years old to enroll in a class. Those ages 11-15 can complete an in-person or hybrid class (online and in-person requirements). Those ages 16 and older can complete online, hybrid or in-person classes.

Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate – Anyone ages 12 through 29 who has not completed firearm or bowhunter education may purchase an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate that temporarily exempts them from hunter and bowhunter education requirements when they follow certain rules.

For more information on the Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate, enrolling in hunter education classes, or to sign up to be notified when classes are scheduled, visit HuntSafeNebraska.org. Instructors typically schedule classes one month in advance.

Become a certified volunteer instructor – Game and Parks is seeking applicants interested in becoming a certified volunteer hunter and/or bowhunter education instructor. To view requirements and to fill out an application, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/hunt/learn-to-hunt/become-a-hunting-mentor/ or contact Kyle Gaston at kyle.gaston@nebraska.govor 402-471-6134.

 

Leftover big game permits available Aug. 6

Hunters may purchase leftover Nebraska big game permits beginning Aug. 6.

These 2025 permits, which remain from earlier application and purchase periods, may be purchased within permit limits starting at 10 a.m. Central time until they sell out. Eligible landowners may purchase any remaining limited landowner permits.

The following permits are available, by species, type and quantity:

Landowner Antelope

Available to resident and nonresident landowners: Banner South, 3; Banner North, 2; North Sioux, 2; Cherry, 1; Cheyenne, 1; and Dismal, 1.

Landowner Elk

Available to resident and nonresident landowners: Unit 2 Antlerless Only, 1; and Unit 4 Antlerless Only, 1.

General Elk

Available to residents only: Unit 8 Antlerless Only, 7.

Deer

Available to nonresidents only: Loup West firearm, 7; Buffalo Mule Deer Conservation Area, 8; Statewide Archery, 215; and Statewide Muzzleloader, 95.

Purchase available permits at OutdoorNebraska.gov and click on “Buy a Permit.”

 

Hunters may enter lottery for deer hunting access on central Platte

Hunters may enter a lottery to gain deer hunting access to Platte River Recreation Access lands in the central Platte River Valley, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Fifty-eight hunters will be drawn randomly in early September and allowed to hunt deer on designated PRRA lands Nov. 16-23, 2025.

Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted by mail or drop box at the Game and Parks south-central district office in Kearney starting Aug. 1 through 5 p.m. Aug. 31. Hunters can apply to hunt three areas but will only receive permission on one area if their name is drawn.

Lottery winners will be notified by Sept. 20. Hunters are required to obtain the appropriate deer permit and habitat stamp.

PRRA lands are closed to all access Oct. 9 to Nov. 15. More information and a map showing the available areas can be obtained at platteaccess.org, by calling 308-865-5338 or emailing ngpc.platteaccess@nebraska.gov.

PRRA lands are lands purchased by the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program for the restoration and maintenance of habitat for whooping cranes, least terns, and piping plovers in the central Platte River Valley. The PRRA program allows limited access to these properties when access will not disturb these species.

More information on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program can be found at platteriverprogram.org/good-neighbors.