28 Nebraska Game and Parks Commission • 2014 Annual Report
One such opportunity was to allow a statewide September
teal season, contingent on evaluation and monitoring of
nontarget (ducks other than teal) attempt and take rates north
of the Platte River. Evaluation of nontarget attempt and take
rates required the use of "spy" blinds.
Fifty Game and Parks employees and affiliated agencies
made 123 observations on 44 wetlands and lakes north of
the Platte River. Of the 123 observations, 40 had hunting
parties present, totaling 100 hunters observed. Of those 40
parties, a total of 1,139 waterfowl were observed within
range of hunters, 825 (72 percent) were teal, 290 (25 percent)
were not teal, and 24 (2 percent) were unknown. Analysis
of attempt and take rates of all duck species will provide
the Service information on potential impacts to nontarget
species during the September teal season. Game and Parks
will continue hunter evaluations for an additional two years
to obtain the necessary data required by the Service to
consider establishing a full statewide September teal season
in Nebraska.
