LINCOLN, Neb. – Spring turkey hunting permits for 2020 will be available from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission beginning Jan. 13.

Nebraska offers the best turkey hunting opportunities in the entire country. Nebraska offers birds in every county of the state. The state also offers plentiful and affordable permits, long seasons, great public access and $8 permits for youth.

Wild turkey hunters in Nebraska enjoy high success rates. In the spring, hunters can purchase as many as three permits, with a bag limit of one turkey per permit.

The spring archery season opens March 25, youth shotgun on April 11, and the regular shotgun on April 18. All spring turkey seasons close May 31.

Visit OutdoorNebraska.org or Game and Parks permitting offices to purchase permits starting Jan. 13. For more information on turkey hunting in Nebraska visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/wildturkey.

Changes to sport fishing orders take effect Jan. 1

LINCOLN, Neb. – Anglers should be aware of changes to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission sport fishing orders that will take effect Jan. 1, 2020. The changes pertain to daily bag limits, possession limits, length limits and open areas.

The changes are:

Trout – The daily bag and possession limits on cutthroat trout change from five and 12, respectively, to two and four, respectively, and only one fish in the bag can be 12 inches or longer. Cutthroats do not naturally reproduce in Nebraska and are produced in limited numbers in state fish hatcheries. The change is designed to spread fishing opportunity among more people by reducing individual harvest.

Striped bass, white bass or wiper – No harvest is allowed at Omaha’s Zorinsky Lake. This is designed to protect wipers and allow them to grow to a larger size.

Channel catfish – The daily bag limit at Merritt Reservoir and Calamus Reservoir shall include no more than one fish 30 inches or longer. This change is expected to protect larger fish at these reservoirs, which have experienced a reduction in overall size of catfish.

Muskellunge, tiger muskellunge – There is a 50-inch minimum length limit for muskie and tiger muskie at Merritt. This is designed to protect large muskie and establish a destination location and trophy fishery at Merritt.

For an updated summary of fishing regulations and orders, read the 2020 Fishing Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides. Find the best places to fish in the coming year by reading the 2020 Fishing Forecast at OutdoorNebraska.gov/fishingforecast. Fishing permits for 2020 can be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Lake Wanahoo land available for mentored youth hunting

More than a thousand acres of land at Lake Wanahoo in Saunders County is available for mentored youth hunting.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says the opportunities are available for youths under 18 through the commission's Passing Along the Heritage program.

Many of the sites are available during the Christmas break.

To reserve a site and obtain a permission slip, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/PATH using the Internet Explorer browser. The program provides Nebraska youths and their mentors access to hunt on private lands and selected public lands.

It is made possible by a partnership between the commission, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Nebraska landowners.

Fish salvage underway at Hackberry Lake near Valentine

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has declared a fish salvage for Hackberry Lake on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge south of Valentine.

The lake was scheduled to have its existing fish population renovated during 2019 to eliminate common carp on the refuge. But the renovation was not completed due to wet conditions and unsuitable water levels.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says length limits are rescinded during the salvage but daily bag limits are maintained. Fish may be taken only by fishing or archery. Salvaged fish cannot be sold or used for stocking into other public or private bodies of water.