OutdoorNebraska

3 3 OPEN FIELDS AND WATERS (OFW) PROGRAM Nebraska is 97 percent privately-owned, and obtaining access to private lands is one of the major challenges facing today's hunters, trappers and anglers. In 2009, the Game and Parks initiated the OFW Program to increase public access opportunities on private lands throughout the state. OFW is a voluntary program that offers financial incentives to landowners willing to allow public walk-in access for hunting, trapping and/or fishing. Each year, Game and Parks biologists work cooperatively with hundreds of private landowners to make these sites available to the public. By purchasing a habitat stamp and a hunting, fishing or fur harvest permit, you are contributing to this program. Funding for OFW comes from multiple sources, including the USDA's Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentives Program, habitat stamp sales and the Pittman-Robertson Act (funding derived from a tax on firearms and ammunition that is distributed to states based on a state's land area and quantity of hunting licenses sold). In addition, conservation groups such as National Wild Turkey Federation, Pheasants/Quail Forever and others, contribute funds to the program. This material is based upon work supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), U.S. Department of Agriculture, under grant #69-3A75-16-512. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Small Grain Stubble Management Program – This fall, upland bird hunters will again find excellent hunting opportunities on tall wheat or milo stubble enrolled in OFW. Given the timing of harvest, tall stubble fields typically are enrolled after the printing of the Public Access Atlas. Check the online versions of the atlas after Sept. 15 to find these sites illustrated in light purple. Stubble left tall and undisturbed following harvest is known to provide multiple habitat benefits to pheasants, quail and other wildlife. Tall stubble also provides additional agricultural and economic benefits through collecting and conserving soil moisture by catching snow, shading the ground and reducing soil erosion. Canyon Access Initiative - Since 2015, the Game and Parks and National Wild Turkey Federation have partnered to increase public hunting and trapping opportunities in the Loess Canyons of southwest Nebraska. Located south of the Platte River in portions of Lincoln, Dawson and Frontier counties, this biologically unique landscape provides excellent hunting opportunities for wild turkeys, mule deer, white-tailed deer and elk. This program will provide public hunting access on over 10,000 acres during the 2017-2018 hunting season (See Map Sheet 19). If you hunt one of these sites, please contact Game and Parks biologist Adam Kester at 308-535-8025 or adam.kester@nebraska.gov and let him know how you did. THE BERGGREN PLAN TO IMPROVE PHEASANT HUNTING In 2016, Game and Parks approved a comprehensive plan for creating the best pheasant hunting experience for the most people over the next five years. The Berggren Plan includes management of all aspects of the pheasant hunting experience, with habitat management and access as cornerstone activities. This plan will work to improve upland game bird habitat on more than 800,000 acres. Habitat work will be concentrated within eight priority areas (private lands) and 17 wildlife management areas (public lands). The Berggren Plan also aims to increase public hunting access within the priority areas, with a goal of enrolling an additional 53,000 acres into OFW over the next 5 years. To accomplish these objectives, Game and Parks will work with existing partners and develop new partnerships with other public entities, private conservation organizations, and local communities. To learn more about the Berggren Plan visit OutdoorNebraska.org/PheasantPlan.

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