Nebraska Game and Parks commissioners, at their regular meeting Friday, will consider changes to the state's 2010 big-game hunting regulations, including a plan to boost the number of deer killed by hunters.
The 2009 white-tailed deer harvest in Nebraska fell short of expectations. The commission wants more deer bagged in eastern Nebraska, and tighter restrictions for mule deer hunting in southwest and south-central Nebraska.
Among deer recommendations:
• Expand the October Antlerless season: The three-day season of 2009 would be lengthened to 11 days. The hunting area would include 60 percent of the state. An unlimited number of permits will be on sale for $10; $54 for nonresidents.
• Earn-a-Buck: As a means of increasing doe harvest, this new tool would require hunters with Elkhorn and Wahoo unit November firearm permits to check in a doe before or at the same time as they check in a buck.
• Mule Deer Conservation Area: The area is comprised of the Buffalo, Frenchman, Republican and Platte units. The only hunters who would be able to take a mule deer buck would be youth, landowners and those with the new Buffalo, Platte, Frenchman or Republican mule deer buck permits. These permits allow harvest in archery, muzzleloader and November firearms seasons. Restricted statewide buck, archery and muzzleloader permits would not be valid for mule deer bucks in the Mule Deer Conservation Area.
Among other deer recommendations:
• Making an additional 45,000 antlerless permits and bonus tags available statewide.
• Allowing archery equipment as legal weapons on firearm permits in November and January.
• Establishing a statewide whitetail buck permit valid in archery, muzzleloader and November firearm seasons.
• Establishing five new Season Choice Areas within existing areas.
• Expanding the late antlerless rifle season to 24 days from 15 days.
Big-game recommendations also include making more antelope and elk permits available. The board also will consider giving underwater spearfishers the same daily bag and possession limit on walleyes as hook-and-line anglers.
The board will meet in commission headquarters in Lincoln at 8 a.m.
Archery tournament in Lincoln March 20
The Nebraska state tournament for the National Archery in the Schools Program will be Saturday at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln.
Nearly 400 archers in grades 4 through 12 are expected to compete, with flights of competition beginning at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Beyond BOW Scuba workshop scheduled
Girls and women are invited to learn scuba diving skills at a Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop April 25 in Lincoln.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission workshop starts at 5 p.m. at the Downtown YMCA. Participants, who must be at least 10 years of age, will be guided by instructors from the Husker Dive Shop.
Register by April 20 and call the Husker Dive Shop at 402-420-6338. The registration fee is $25.
BOW, BOF workshops scheduled
A series of Becoming an Outdoors Woman and Becoming an Outdoors Family workshops are scheduled this year, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The workshops encourage active outdoor lifestyles by teaching women and families a variety of outdoor skills.
Location and dates for Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshops: Ponca State Park, May 21-23; Nebraska 4-H Camp at the Bessey Ranger Division of the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey, Oct. 1-3.
Becoming an Outdoors Family events: Ponca State Park, June 11-13; Platte River State Park, June 19-20; and Shooting Skills Camp at Ponca State Park, Aug. 13-15.
Go to NebraskaBOW.com for more information, including a registration form.
CALENDAR
THURSDAY
• Cornhusker Fly Fishers fly-tying workshop, 6 to 8 p.m., Cabela's, La Vista.
SATURDAY
• Photographer Randy Hampton of Lincoln hosts a digital workflow and wildlife photography workshop, 1 p.m., Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center, I-80 Alda exit 305, fee, pre-register.
SUNDAY
• Program on rare Platte River caddisfly, 1 p.m., Nebraska Nature & Visitor Center, I-80 Alda exit 305, free.
Please submit Calendar items to outdoors@owh.com or send to Outdoors Sports, World-Herald Sports Dept., 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102.
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