Jerry Kane
Public Information Officer | jerry.kane@nebraska.gov | 402.471.5008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Game and Parks to Conduct Prescribed Burns

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will burn tree piles, as weather and snow cover allow, at several sites across the state.

Tree piles are created by the removal of invading trees in grassland or timber stands or from trees damaged in wildfires or storms. Removal of tree piles will open grasslands and timber for continued management, eliminate a wildfire fuel source and eliminate sites conducive to the germination of noxious and invasive plants. Late-season timber and grassland burns also will be conducted to suppress invading tree and shrub species from timber stands and grasslands.

The following list includes scheduled prescribed burns by county:

Antelope County – Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA); Brown County – Pine Glen WMA; Buffalo County – Bassway Strip WMA; Cherry County – Anderson Bridge WMA, Borman Bridge WMA; Custer County – Pressey WMA, Arcadia Diversion WMA; Burt County – Summit Lake State Recreation Area (SRA), Pelican Point State SRA; Dakota County – Basswood Ridge WMA; Dawes County – Bighorn WMA, Ponderosa WMA, Chadron State Park (SP); Dawson County – Dogwood WMA, Cozad WMA, Bittern’s Call WMA; Dixon County – Ponca SP;  Howard County – Leonard Koziol WMA, Harold Anderson WMA; Johnson County – Osage WMA; Keya Paha County – Thomas Creek WMA; Lancaster County – Branched Oak WMA, Bluestem SRA, Killdeer WMA, Yankee Hill WMA, Conestoga WMA; Lincoln County – Cedar Valley WMA, Wapiti WMA;   Pawnee County – Burchard Lake WMA, Lores Branch WMA, Pawnee Prairie WMA, Table Rock WMA, Taylors Branch WMA;  Richardson County – Four Mile Creek WMA; Seward County – Twin Lakes WMA, Oak Glen WMA; Sheridan County – Metcalf WMA; Sherman County – Sherman Reservoir WMA; Washington County – Fort Atkinson State Historical Park.

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Enjoy Christmas Buffet at The Lodge

LINCOLN – Enjoy the holiday with family and friends with a reservations-only Christmas buffet at The Lodge restaurant at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park’s Peter Kiewit Lodge near Ashland on Dec. 25.

The Lodge will be open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and only the buffet will be available. The prices for the buffet of holiday favorites are $19.99 for adults and $9.99 for ages 3-10.

To make a reservation, contact the park at 402-944-2523. A park entry permit is required of each vehicle entering the park.

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Nebraska Deer Harvest Up 11 Percent So Far

LINCOLN – Total deer harvest in Nebraska is up 11 percent compared to this time one year ago.

As of Dec. 8, nearly 50,000 deer have been harvested, compared to 45,000 last year and 42,500 in 2013.

The biggest change is the mule deer buck harvest of 8,307 – up 1,200 from 2014. That is an increase of 17 percent from last year and 25 percent from 2013.

“This is great news for hunters, as mule deer are clearly responding to good weather and a reduction in doe harvest over the past five years,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Whitetail buck harvest (26,846) is up 3,128 animals. That is a jump of 13 percent from last year and 18 percent from 2013.

“We are pleased to see the increases in whitetail bucks as the herd continues to recover from the drought and EHD events of 2012,” Hams said.

Archery and Muzzleloader seasons continue through Dec. 31, while the Late Antlerless season is Jan. 1 – 15, 2016.

“We expect hunters to harvest about 57,000 deer this year, which is well below the 88,014 taken in 2010, but well ahead of the 48,000 taken in 2013,” Hams said.

Archery, Muzzleloader, Youth, River Antlerless and some Season Choice antlerless permits remain available throughout the state. They may be purchased at Game and Parks permitting offices or at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Hunters are reminded that mule deer does are protected in many management units and public lands across the state. Refer to the 2015 Big Game Guide for details.

In addition, hunters can use the Hunters Helping the Hungry and Deer Exchange programs to donate their venison. Go to OutdoorNebraska.org for more details.

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