OutdoorNebraska

5 Open Fields and Waters sites are for walk- in hunting, trapping and/or fishing only. • Target shooting, camping, swimming, horseback riding, professional dog training and other unauthorized activities are prohibited. Campfires and alcohol are also prohibited. • Sites may be open for specific uses, such as fishing only. Sites are generally open year-round during legal hunting, trapping and fishing seasons. Exceptions include closure during the nine-day November firearm deer season sites (no public access during that time), spring turkey-only sites, ice-fishing only sites, etc. • Trapping regulations on OFW sites are the same as those on wildlife management areas. For details, check the current Nebraska Small Game & Waterfowl Guide at OutdoorNebraska.org/Guides. • Ponds and lakes are managed under statewide fishing regulations, with the exception of largemouth bass, which have a 21-inch minimum length limit and the daily bag limit may contain only one fish 21 inches or longer: • Panfish (bluegill, green sunfish, orangespotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, redear sunfish, all sunfish hybrids, rock bass, yellow perch, white crappie and black crappie) – Daily bag limit of 15 • Channel catfish – Daily bag limit of five in standing water and 10 in flowing water •For other regulations, check the current Fishing Guide at OutdoorNebraska.org/Guides. Driving vehicles on enrolled public access sites is prohibited. • Habitat destruction, erosion, fire and landowner withdrawal from the program may be consequences of driving on these sites. • Park in designated parking areas or along roads and avoid creating safety hazards for other vehicles. • Do not drive on private field roads and lanes unless signs indicate that this is allowed. • Non-motorized portable watercraft is allowed unless otherwise posted. • Trailer-launched boats are prohibited on enrolled sites unless posted signs allow it. Temporary portable blinds are allowed unless otherwise posted. • They should be removed at the close of the hunting day. • Portable tree stands are allowed unless otherwise posted, but should not be installed, used or left in place from Feb. 1 through Aug. 15. • In addition, portable-type tree steps that attach to the tree with chains or ropes, or that screw into the tree are permitted on these public access sites. Every effort is made to ensure quality habitat is enrolled. • If habitat quality becomes inadvertently degraded after enrollment, the landowner is held harmless in his/her agreement. • If landowner actions result in significant habitat degradation, OFW payment will be adjusted or withheld. For example, the USDA can authorize landowners with CRP to harvest forage from enrolled lands through managed or emergency haying and grazing provisions. This can be beneficial as landowners often use these techniques to enhance habitat for subsequent years. If the habitat on an enrolled site is removed or degraded, the site will still appear in the Public Access Atlas and be posted open to hunting and trapping. However, Game and Parks staff will inspect all enrolled sites and adjust contract payments for acres that no longer provide acceptable wildlife cover. • Hunters need to be aware that private landowners enrolled in OFW retain the right to access their properties at any time, including during the primary hunting seasons. • This information is only a summary of applicable hunting, trapping and fishing regulations. For more complete information, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/Guides and select the guide or guides that apply to your intended activity. OPEN FIELDS AND WATERS (OFW) PROGRAM

• Cover