LINCOLN, Neb. – Abundant hunting opportunities and access await hunters when they go afield for the opener of the Nebraska pheasant, quail and partridge seasons on Oct. 26.

Hunters seeking new places to hunt are encouraged to refer to the 2019-20 Public Access Atlas, which displays nearly a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout the state. In addition to state and federal lands, hunters will have access to more than 347,000 acres of private land enrolled in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Open Fields and Waters Program, an increase of 30,000 acres from 2018. For those pursuing upland birds in the Southwest or Panhandle regions, the Stubble Access Guide displays an additional 40,000 acres of tall wheat and milo stubble fields open to public hunting access. Both publications are available at OutdoorNebraska.gov/PublicAccessAtlas.

According to the July Rural Mail Carrier Survey, this year’s statewide pheasant index was down 14% but hunters should still find good bird numbers where suitable habitat exists. Habitat conditions across the state look great going into the fall following the abundant moisture received earlier this spring/summer. Hunters will find the best pheasant hunting opportunities in the Southwest and Panhandle regions, which offer good bird numbers and abundant public access.

For bobwhites, this year’s production should make up for some of the population losses incurred from severe winter weather earlier this spring. The Republican, West Platte, and Southeast regions should offer the best quail hunting opportunities this fall according to the Spring Whistle Count Survey. The full upland hunting forecast is available online at OutdoorNebraska.gov/Upland.

This year marks the second year of Nebraska’s Upland Slam, which challenges hunters to try to harvest all four upland bird species in Nebraska – ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken and northern bobwhite. Last year, 140 hunters representing 10 states completed the Slam. Those who complete the Slam receive an official certificate and pin, and are entered for a chance to win prizes sponsored by Pheasants and Quail Forever. For more information, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/UplandSlam.

The Take ’Em Hunting campaign is also a great way to bring a new or novice hunter into the fold. Share the excitement of a hunt and help create lifelong memories for a new hunter. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/takeemhunting to get started.

Hunters should be mindful of the following firearm safety rules:

-- Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.

-- Never point a firearm at anything you do not mean to shoot.

-- Keep your finger out of the trigger guard until you are ready to shoot.

-- Be sure of your target and what lies beyond it.

The hunting seasons for pheasant, quail and partridge, as well as grouse, run through Jan. 31, 2020.

For more on hunting in Nebraska, visit OutdoorNebraska.org.

Special youth pheasant hunt another success

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska youth got to experience an upland hunt as adult mentors took them afield for the state’s special youth pheasant hunt Oct. 19-20.

The special hunt took place on 14 wildlife management areas (WMA), where the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission released 7,390 roosters Oct. 18.

In total, 362 adult mentors accompanied 440 youth hunters on the hunt this year, up almost 15% from 2018. Youth and their mentors harvested 25 wild roosters and 745 released roosters.

“We are excited to see so many youth out in the field harvesting pheasants and we are grateful for the mentors and parents who are taking kids out,” said John Laux, Game and Parks’ upland game program manager. “There will be many more great days afield for mixed bag hunting with youth this year, including upland game, turkey and deer.”

Pheasants were released at the following WMAs: Pressey (Custer County); Sherman Reservoir (Sherman County); Oak Valley (Madison County); Powder Creek (Dixon County); Branched Oak (Lancaster County); Twin Oaks (Johnson County); Hickory Ridge (Johnson County); Wilkinson (Platte County); Yankee Hill (Lancaster County), Cornhusker (Hall County), Arrowhead (Gage County), George Syas (Platte County), Rakes Creek (Cass County), and Kirkpatrick Basin North (York County).

The highest harvest success rates were at Sherman Reservoir, Pressey, Kirkpatrick North Basin, and Rakes Creek.

The special hunt, which takes place annually during the statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season, was for youth ages 15 and younger. Youth could take two rooster pheasants per day while adult mentors were allowed to harvest one per day. Only one adult mentor per youth was allowed to hunt.

This was the ninth year of the pheasant releases during the special youth season, which is intended to increase youth participation in upland game hunting.

The statewide pheasant, quail and partridge season is Oct. 26 – Jan. 31, 2020, giving hunters an opportunity to start or complete a Nebraska Upland Slam. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/uplandslam for details. Permits are available at OutdoorNebraska.org.