OutdoorNebraska

3 Nebraska is more than 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, Game and Parks initiated the OFW Program to increase public access opportunities on private lands throughout VJGUVCVG1(9KUCXQNWPVCT[RTQITCOVJCVQHHGTUſPCPEKCN incentives to landowners willing to allow public walk-in CEEGUUHQTJWPVKPIVTCRRKPICPFQTſUJKPI'CEJ[GCT)COG and Parks biologists work cooperatively with hundreds of private landowners to make these sites available to the public. $[RWTEJCUKPICJCDKVCVUVCORCPFCJWPVKPIſUJKPIQTHWT 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 ſTGCTOUCPFCOOWPKVKQP that is distributed to states based on a state's land area and quantity of hunting licenses sold). In addition, conservation groups such as the 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 6JKUHCNNWRNCPFDKTFJWPVGTUYKNNCICKPſPFGZEGNNGPVJWPVKPI opportunities on tall wheat or milo stubble enrolled in OFW. )KXGPVJGVKOKPIQHJCTXGUVVCNNUVWDDNGſGNFUV[RKECNN[CTG enrolled after the printing of the Public Access Atlas. Check the online versions of the atlas after Sept. 16 or pick up a 5VWDDNG#EEGUU)WKFGVQſPFVJGUGUKVGUKNNWUVTCVGFKPNKIJV purple. Stubble left tall and undisturbed following harvest is MPQYPVQRTQXKFGOWNVKRNGJCDKVCVDGPGſVUVQRJGCUCPVUSWCKN and other wildlife. Tall stubble can also provide additional CITKEWNVWTCNCPFGEQPQOKEDGPGſVUD[TGFWEKPIUQKNGTQUKQP and conserving soil moisture (through shading ground and distributing snow). Canyon Access Initiative Since 2015, Game and Parks and the 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 2019-20 season, the program will provide public hunting and trapping access on more than 15,000 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 GZRGTKGPEGHQTVJGOQUVRGQRNGFWTKPIVJGPGZVſXG years. The Berggren Plan includes 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. Since 2016, Game and Parks biologists have enrolled over 85,000 additional acres of OFW within the priority areas and hope to continue to expand public hunting opportunities in 2019 and beyond. To learn more about the Berggren Plan visit: OutdoorNebraska.org/PheasantPlan. OPEN FIELDS AND WATERS (OFW) PROGRAM

• Cover