Commission will consider big game hunting recommendations

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider staff recommendations for 2024 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons when it meets April 25 at Ponca State Park.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Missouri River Resource and Education Center, 88090 Spur 26 E, Ponca.

A public hearing is scheduled for proposed amendments to Commission orders pertaining to season dates, bag limits, permit quantities and areas open for deer, antelope and elk hunting. The proposed changes will help the agency meet management goals for big game populations. Management goals take into consideration population and harvest data, as well as input from hunters, landowners, and the public, with the goal of maintaining long-term opportunities and access for hunters.

Staff will recommend, among other big game proposals:

• removing 219 either-sex and 184 doe/fawn antelope permits,
• removing 11 bull and 38 antlerless elk permits,
• reducing available November Firearm permits by 13% and Antlerless Only Season Choice permits by 37%,
• creating new Private Land Only Pine Ridge and Private Land Only Sandhills deer permits,
• converting the Statewide Buck and Restricted Statewide Buck deer permits to the Season Choice format, which makes the permit valid for all deer seasons with the legal method of take during each open season,
• Calamus West, Loup West, Plains, Sandhills and Upper Platte join the units where an individual may have only one unit permit that allows the harvest of a mule deer. Hunters can hold a second mule deer unit permit in a different unit.

In other business, staff will recommend:

• approval of the rental fees for the new horse pens at Mare Barn Campground at Fort Robinson State Park.
• an increase in cash change funds at several parks to assist with operations and accommodate shower house coin requirements.

The commissioners also will hear reports about the Missouri River Outdoor Expo’s 20^th anniversary in 2025 and a spring education and outreach update.

A complete meeting agenda can be found at outdoornebraska.gov/publicnotices.