Commissioners to consider sportfishing orders

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider amendments to sportfishing orders when it meets Oct. 25 in Broken Bow. These orders regard daily bag limits, possession limits and open areas.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. in the Broken Bow Municipal Auditorium, 314 S. 10th St.

Proposed sportfishing amendments would, among other things:

• change the bag limit and size restriction for black bass and northern pike in several lakes;
• change the size restriction on striped bass, white bass and wiper statewide;
• change the walleye, sauger and saugeye bag and size restriction on Branched Oak Lake;
• remove the size restriction on channel catfish from the Missouri River; and
• change the timeframe when anglers are allowed to fish the Two Rivers State Recreation Area Trout Lake without a trout tag.

The commissioners also will consider amending orders to create a bighorn sheep management hunt for March 1-31, 2025. Two resident lottery permits would be authorized, with a bag limit of one male bighorn sheep that is half curl or less. The hunt would take place in portions of Scotts Bluff and Banner counties.

To view proposed orders, go to OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Orders.”

In other business, commissioners will consider amendments to:

• fisheries regulations regarding rules relating to bait collection by anglers and bait dealers, including listing of legal bait species, harvest methods and limits;
• wildlife regulations regarding threatened and endangered species, including a list of state and federally designated critical habitat, updating list of streams where baitfish is prohibited to protect state-listed threatened or endangered fish, adding ability for State Action Agencies to designate a “Non-State Representative” to conduct informal consultation on their behalf, outlining the process for allowing Incidental Take and including an Incidental Take Statement in formal consultation;
• fisheries regulations relating to aquatic invasive species, including listing invasive species, inspections, decontamination, impoundments and restrictions; and
• wildlife regulations to address changes in Nebraska statutes and update regulations to mirror the Federal Endangered Species Act consultation process, improve clarity, add efficiencies, address new technology and its use in the consultation process, and reduce restrictions.

Commissioners also will consider a staff recommendation to enter into a supplemental agreement for Transportation Alternatives Funding to surface the Cowboy Trail from Rushville to mile marker 400 near Chadron.

Also, parks staff will recommend commission approval of the Recreation Road Program’s 1- and 5-Year Plan; and will seek approval of fee increases for park activities, lodging and rental facilities.

There also will be a Hunter Education program presentation, a review of the state parks in the summer, and commissioners will set the 2025 meeting schedule.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Public Notices.”