Pheasant Hunting In Nebraska – Slight Dip, Still Top Destination
Forecast: Severe heat and drought has plagued much of the Nebraska this summer, which might have impacted pheasant production. The state’s July Rural Mail Carrier Survey indicated statewide decrease of 15 percent compared to 2011, Jeff Lusk, Upland Game Program Manager with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commissions, says survey conditions weren’t conducive to observing wildlife, so the decrease may not be as steep as the numbers would indicate.
Despite a slight drop, Nebraska continues to be among the top states in the Midwest for pheasant hunting. Based on the summer survey, the southwest region will once again offer the best hunting opportunities, particularly Red Willow, Hitchcock and Hayes Counties. Additionally, the eastern portion of the Panhandle region (where the survey indicated a 19 percent increase) and the Central region, namely Dawson, Sherman and Greeley Counties, should provide good pheasant hunting opportunities. Lusk points out that continued habitat loss in eastern Nebraska to irrigated corn agriculture has impacted all upland species in this region.
Last year, 46,200 hunters harvested an estimated 217,700 ringnecks in Nebraska.
Season Dates: October 26 through January 31, 2013 Daily Bag Limit: 3 Possession Limit: 12 Field Notes: Nebraska’s Conservation Reserve Program-Management Access Program (CRP-MAP), a long favorite of public land pheasant hunters, is being restructured and transitioned into the Open Fields and Waters Program. The merger simplifies programs and allows higher landowner payment rates to open up additional habitats, including wetlands and woodlands. Helpful Links: