OutdoorNebraska

Communities also should remember that although OFW does offer some recreation opportunities, federal lands offer more with the wildlife refuges, national forests, and scenic rivers they own and maintain. Therefore, communities can benefit from federal lands near them and encourage citizens and tourists to participate in the recreation services and amenities offered. The third largest public land provider is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, which owns or manages almost 22 percent of the available outdoor recreation land in the state. The nonprofits in Figure 3.1 make up around 7 percent of accessible lands to recreate. There are many nonprofits that do not offer public land to recreate, but have private land easements to preserve habitat and natural resources. This gives a good depiction of the recreational supply NGPC and nonprofits provide and the role they play in outdoor recreation and the preservation of our natural resources. Don't forget to check what type of recreation is available on the land before going out to recreate. Finally, local communities comprise about 2 percent of the supply of recreation in Nebraska. This may seem like a small percentage of the pie; however, it stresses the importance for communities to provide recreation amenities that meet the preferences of their people with the finite space they have dedicated to recreation. Figure 3.1 shows a majority of the public land available in Nebraska is federal land or land that is part of the OFW program. The OFW program was initiated to increase public access opportunities on private lands through contracts with landowners. OFW is a voluntary program that offers financial incentives to landowners willing to allow public walk-in access for hunting, trapping, and/or fishing. OFW areas offer opportunities for these specific types of recreation; however, other land available for recreation may not offer these opportunities, so it's important to always be aware of the types of recreation available on different public lands. If communities are looking for ways to increase hunting, trapping, and angling opportunities, they may want to consider promoting the OFW program to their citizens. Federal Land Nonprots Open Fields and Waters Local Communities Nebraska Game and Parks Commission NRDs 42.61% 25.37% 21.79% 7.21% 2.11% 0.92% Figure 3.1: Providers of Public Recreation Lands Duck hunting at Langdon Bend Wildlife Management Area. (Nemaha County) Integrate hunting and fishing in your recreation plan The Public Access Atlas is a great resource for communities and recreation professionals to use because it identifies and consolidates access areas on public and private lands into one easy-to-read atlas written for hunters, trappers, and anglers. An interactive map can be accessed any time online for the most up-to-date information regarding lands to hunt, trap, or fish. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/PublicAccessAtlas. HOW-TO 37

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