OutdoorNebraska

20 | Turkey Hunting Information: 402-471-0641 HELP PROTECT YOUR FAVORITE HUNTING SPOTS Invasive species are plants, animals or pathogens that are non-native to an ecosystem. They cause harm to the economy, environment or human health. They interfere with recreation opportunities and affect wildlife. They impact wildlife by significantly reducing desirable wildlife forage, altering thermal and escape cover, affecting water availability for wildlife, and reducing vegetation biodiversity necessary for wildlife survival. • Before leaving home or camp, inspect and remove all plant parts, animals, mud, and other debris from gear, pets and vehicles. Dispose of the debris on site. Do the same before leaving your hunting site. • Follow existing trails to prevent invasive and noxious plant parts and seeds from getting on clothes and pets. Avoid areas infested with invasive and noxious plant species. • Only burn locally sourced firewood. The emerald ash borer is an invasive insect that now is present in Nebraska. These invasive insects can be spread by bringing non-locally sourced firewood into an area. Leave any unburned firewood at the camp site or with a camp host. • Drain all water from watercraft before leaving an area. Wash your boat and allow it to dry completely before entering another body of water. Never transport live fish or bait. Dumping bait or fish into another water body can introduce invasive aquatic invaders. For more information, contact Allison Zach, Nebraska Invasive Species Program Coordinator (invasives@unl. edu) or visit neinvasives.com. STATE REFUGES These areas, established by statute, are closed to hunting, except as noted. These are private lands where landowner permission to hunt is required: • Lincoln County Refuge – Sections 21, 26, 27, 28, 34, 35, 36 T14N, R30W in Lincoln County within 110 yards of the banks of the North Platte River are open to deer hunting. • Garden County Refuge – Those portions of Garden County within 110 yards of the banks of the North Platte River are open to archery deer hunting from Sept. 1 - Oct. 31 with landowner permission, except; 1) that portion within the Clear Creek Refuge portion of the Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area west of the Garden County line is open to deer hunting during all established deer seasons from Sept. 1 through the Sunday before Thanksgiving. • Dodge/Saunders County Refuge – Those portions of Dodge and Saunders counties west of the Nebraska Highway 92 bridge at Venice within 110 yards of the banks of the Platte River are open to all deer hunting. PUBLIC LANDS Nebraska's public lands encompass nearly 800,000 acres on about 300 state and federal areas. Most of the land is owned by the federal government. Of the state-owned lands, about 47,000 acres have been purchased with proceeds from the sale of Nebraska Habitat Stamps. Nebraska's public hunting lands comprise 2 percent of the state's total land areas. Types of Public Lands: State Wildlife Management Areas (WMA) • These areas are state-owned or managed. • Hunting and trapping is allowed in season, unless otherwise posted. • Portable tree stands shall not be installed, used or left in place from Feb. 1 through Aug. 15 on WMAs. • It is unlawful to build or use permanent or semi-permanent tree stands that attach to any tree with nails, screws, bolts or wire. • Camping is allowed, unless otherwise posted. • Fires are allowed only in fireplaces, grills or fire rings, where provided by Game and Parks. • Use of propane or gas stoves and charcoal grills is allowed. PUBLIC HUNTING LANDS INVASIVE SPECIES

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