OutdoorNebraska

80 Economic Research: Feasibility and Cost-Benefits Studies • Begin development of a research project to assess the costs and benefits of a focused predator removal opera on and to determine areas of the state where such an opera on would have the highest return on investment. (§B.9) $250k-$350k; 3 years • Con nue to analyze the costs and benefits of lands offered to us for sale, and acquire lands in accordance with budget constraints and agency's acquisi on priori es. (§B.5) <$10k; <1 year • Assess the feasibility of pursuing conserva on and/or public access easements in lieu of acquisi ons to conserve habitat and hun ng opportuni es. (§B.5) <$10k; <1 year • Assess the es mated number and spa al distribu on of pheasant hun ng acres needed to sa sfy a target level of demand, and determine the most cost efficient blend of acquisi ons, easements, and access arrangements necessary to meet that demand. (§B.5) $100k-$150k; 2 years • Assess the feasibility of leasing a large block (>5,000 acres) of private land to research pheasant responses to landscape-level habitat changes. (§B.1) <$10k; <1 year • Assess the feasibility of employing at least one partnership biologist in each county within our Focus on Pheasants focus areas to promote beneficial habitat prac ces and more fully take advantage of habitat improvement opportuni es. (§B.2) <$10k; <1 year • Assess our budgetary capacity to support current and future pheasant release programs while concurrently suppor ng other programs benefi ng pheasant hunters. (§D.1) <$10k; <1 year • Assess the types and price points of our small game permits and habitat stamps to ensure a proper balance between lowering barriers to par cipa on and providing the services necessary to encourage con nued par cipa on, including assessment of a $5 non-resident youth small game permit. (§D.2) <$50k-$100k; 1 year • Assess the u lity of purchasing email lists for direct marke ng campaigns to non-resident hunters. (§E.3) <$10k; <1 year Habitat Studies: Private and Public Land Management • Assess the feasibility of alterna ve approaches to expand our capacity to accomplish work on WMAs (e.g., traveling work crews, "Adopt a WMA" programs, &c.) (§B.4) <$10k; <1 year • Assess the apparent suitability of current and addi onal WMAs to be included in the Focus on Pheasants and Focus on Quail programs based on WMA size, surrounding landscape condi on, and available staff and funding, and adjust priori es accordingly. (§B.4) <$50k; 1 year • Assess the feasibility of an Upland Game Focus Area spanning public and private lands in the Pla e River Valley. (§B.1 & §B.4) <$10k; 1 year • Assess the feasibility of a state- and/or federally-funded short-term set-aside program directed toward focus areas. (§B.1) <$10k; 1 year • Assess the feasibility of mobile work crews to accomplish be er mid-contract management on Conserva on Reserve Program acres (§B.1) <$10k; 1 year Policy Studies: Legislative/Regulation Changes & Feasibility • Assess the feasibility of pursuing alterna ve funding sources (e.g., a dedicated state sales tax, a special appropria on from the legislature, a non-was ng trust fund for pheasant conserva on, &c.) in collabora on with our conserva on partners. (§A) <$10k; < 1 year • Assess the feasibility of pursuing legisla ve ac ons that would promote pheasant habitat and hun ng (e.g., a property tax reduc on, freeze, or similar incen ve on cropland converted to grassland or stream buffers, promo on of prescribed fire, &c.) in collabora on with our conserva on partners. (§A) <$10k; <1 year • Assess the biological and law enforcement ramifica ons of reducing or elimina ng Cap ve Wildlife Permit requirements to raise and release pheasants, and minimize requirements accordingly. (§B.6) <$10k; <1 year • Assess the biological, economic, and legal ramifica ons of liberalizing CSA rules and policies, and recommend changes accordingly such that the regulatory burden is minimized. (§C.3) <$10k; <1 year

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