OutdoorNebraska

3 OPEN FIELDS AND WATERS (OFW) PROGRAM Nebraska is 97 percent privately-owned, and obtaining access to private lands is one of the major challenges facing today's hunters, trappers and anglers. In 2009, the Game and Parks initiated the OFW Program to increase public access opportunities on private lands throughout the state. OFW KUCXQNWPVCT[RTQITCOVJCVQHHGTUſPCPEKCNKPEGPVKXGUVQ landowners willing to allow public walk-in access for hunting, VTCRRKPICPFQTſUJKPI'CEJ[GCT)COGCPF2CTMUDKQNQIKUVU work cooperatively with hundreds of private landowners to make these sites available to the public. By purchasing a habitat stamp and a JWPVKPIſUJKPI or fur harvest permit, you are contributing to this program. Funding for OFW comes from multiple sources, including the USDA's Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program, habitat stamp sales and the Pittman-Robertson Act (funding derived from a tax on ſTGCTOUCPFCOOWPKVKQPVJCVKUFKUVTKDWVGFVQUVCVGUDCUGF on a state's land area and quantity of hunting licenses sold). In addition, conservation groups such as National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants/Quail Forever and others, contribute funds to the program. This material is based upon work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, under grant #69-3A75-16-512. Any opinions, ſPFKPIUEQPENWUKQPUQTTGEQOOGPFCVKQPUGZRTGUUGFKPVJKU publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Small Grain Stubble Management Program – This fall, upland DKTFJWPVGTUYKNNCICKPſPFGZEGNNGPVJWPVKPIQRRQTVWPKVKGUQP tall wheat or milo stubble enrolled in OFW. Given the timing QHJCTXGUVVCNNUVWDDNGſGNFUV[RKECNN[CTGGPTQNNGFCHVGTVJG printing of the Public Access Atlas. Check the online versions of the atlas after Sept. 28 or pick up a Stubble Access Guide VQſPFVJGUGUKVGUKNNWUVTCVGFKPNKIJVRWTRNG5VWDDNGNGHVVCNN and undisturbed following harvest is known to provide multiple JCDKVCVDGPGſVUVQRJGCUCPVUSWCKNCPFQVJGTYKNFNKHG6CNN stubble also provides additional agricultural and economic DGPGſVUVJTQWIJEQNNGEVKPICPFEQPUGTXKPIUQKNOQKUVWTGD[ catching snow, shading the ground and reducing soil erosion. Canyon Access Initiative - Since 2015, the Game and Parks and National Wild Turkey Federation have partnered to increase public hunting and trapping opportunities in the Loess Canyons of southwest Nebraska. Located south of the Platte River in portions of Lincoln, Dawson and Frontier counties, this biologically unique landscape provides excellent hunting opportunities for wild turkeys, mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk. For the 2018-19 season, the program will provide public hunting and trapping access on more than 12,500 acres (See Map Sheet 19). If you hunt one of these sites, please contact Game and Parks biologist Adam Kester at 308-535-8025 or adam.kester@nebraska.gov and let him know how you did. THE BERGGREN PLAN TO IMPROVE PHEASANT HUNTING In 2016, Game and Parks approved a comprehensive plan for creating the best pheasant hunting experience for the most RGQRNGFWTKPIVJGPGZVſXG[GCTU6JG$GTIITGP2NCPKPENWFGU management of all aspects of the pheasant hunting experience, with habitat management and access as cornerstone activities. This plan set out to improve upland gamebird habitat on more than 800,000 acres. Habitat work is being concentrated within eight priority areas (private lands) and 17 wildlife management areas (public lands). Increasing public access on private lands is also a primary objective of the plan. In 2017, Game and Parks biologists enrolled over 28,000 additional acres into OFW within the priority areas and hope to continue expanding public hunting opportunities in 2018 and beyond. To learn more about the Berggren Plan visit: OutdoorNebraska.org/PheasantPlan.

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