Land management
Nebraska Game and Parks provides programs and resources to help landowners, towns or cities enhance their property in support of wildlife, habitat and outdoor recreation.
Landowner habitat programs
Nebraska Game and Parks and its partners in conservation offer a variety of programs focused on Nebraska habitat to qualifying landowners.
Conservation Reserve Program
The Conservation Reserve Program is a federal program overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency that pays a yearly rental payment in exchange for farmers removing environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and planting species that will improve environmental quality.
Open Fields and Waters
The Open Fields and Waters Program is a voluntary program that offers financial incentives to private landowners willing to allow walk-in access on their property for hunting, trapping, and/or fishing. Participating landowners are afforded liability protection and receive annual, per-acre payments.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program
Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to improve wildlife habitat across the state.
Berggren Plan
The updated Berggren Plan, released in 2022, continues to focus on restoring pheasant habitat and increasing public hunting opportunities. As part of the plan, financial incentives are being offered to private landowners to improve wildlife habitat and/or provide walk-in hunting access.
Private waters programs
Nebraska’s private waters provide a substantial amount of fishing opportunity, produce quality fisheries and are important habitats for native wildlife species. The Private Waters program provides technical and management assistance for landowners.
Wild Nebraska
WILD Nebraska is an umbrella program of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission that primarily delivers wildlife habitat management activities on private lands. This partnership with Nebraska’s 23 Natural Resources Districts is a key element in providing quality wildlife habitat across the state. Call your district office for more information on opportunities in your area.
Nebraska Natural Legacy Project
The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project is part of a nationwide effort to address the needs of declining wildlife populations. The mission of the Natural Legacy Project is to refine and implement a blueprint for conserving Nebraska’s flora, fauna and natural habitats through the proactive, voluntary conservation actions.
Landowner hunting programs
Nebraska Game and Parks has programs available to qualifying landowners in Nebraska to address conservation or depredation issues on their land.
Community plans
Nebraska Game and Parks provides resources to landowners and communities to improve their land or provide recreational amenities. Resources range from pond and wetland management guides to outdoor recreation planning.
Land management resources
Nebraska Game and Parks also offers resources to landowners to help manage their property to support wildlife, including pollinators.
