OutdoorNebraska

Wildlife • 2020 Annual Report 35 N E B R A S K A U P L A N D S L A M M A K I N G I M P A C T The Nebraska{Upland Slam, initiated in 2018 by Game and Parks and Pheasants and Quail Forever, is now in its third season. This initiative challenges{hunters to harvest a sharp- tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken, ring-necked pheasant and northern bobwhite quail in one season.{To participate, hunters upload their photos and enter harvest information on the Upland Slam website.{Those who complete the Slam receive a certificate and pin, and{are entered into a drawing to win one of several prizes. During the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons, 541 hunters from 22 states participated. They ranged in age from 8 to 80 years, and 85% of them were Nebraskans. Of all participants, 262 hunters completed the{slam, with 41 completing it two seasons in a row. Additionally, more than half of harvests occurred on public lands, providing a great way to promote upland opportunities on publicly accessible lands throughout the state. The Upland Slam was implemented to improve upland hunter recruitment, retention and reactivation as well as{increase awareness of Nebraska's mixed-bag opportunities, and it seems to be making some key impacts. Across these first two seasons of the slam, 156 hunters had the banner experience of harvesting a species for the first time in their lifetime. D U C K S L A M R E N E W I N G E X C I T E M E N T I N W A T E R F O W L H U N T I N G People from all across the state and the country are participating in the second year of the Nebraska Duck Slam for a chance at completing an honorable feat, while also being in the running for many great prizes. The Slam challenges hunters to harvest four ducks during the season: a teal (blue-winged or green-winged) of either sex, as well as drakes (males) of three other species: an American wigeon, a mallard, and a northern pintail. All ducks must be harvested in Nebraska, and hunters must upload a photo of each harvested duck. The Slam, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited, has renewed a sense of excitement in the waterfowl world. As of Jan. 11, 2021, 311 hunters entered the challenge, with 124 of those already completing the Slam. The excitement around the challenge is that hunters would target new species that they may not otherwise pursue. Many hunters who harvested a species for the first time mentioned how this program got them out of their "comfort zone" to target new species. Another benefit is that hunters are taking advantage of public land opportunities. The number of first-time hunters, youth and re-activated hunters has made this program successful in reinvigorating waterfowl hunters in Nebraska. LACEY CLARKE, AINSWORTH ELIZABETH WALVOORD, HICKMAN

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