36 2017 Annual Report
N E B R A S K A O F F E R S T H E
B E S T T U R K E Y H U N T I N G
O P P O R T U N I T I E S I N T H E
N A T I O N
Turkey hunting in Nebraska continues
to be among the best in the nation,
with overall spring 2017 harvest
success at 64 percent and nonresident
success at 75. Spring permit sales have
exceeded 30,000 each year since 2006.
Populations also appear to be stable
in most regions of the state based on
the annual Rural Mail Carrier Survey
results. This should provide ample
opportunities for successful hunting in
seasons to come. On April 12, Gov. Pete
Ricketts proclaimed Nebraska the best
turkey-hunting destination in the United
States. His proclamation cited turkey
abundance, youth-friendly regulations
and permit prices, permit availability,
and season lengths as factors why
nearly 90 percent of turkey hunters
are satisfi ed with their Nebraska turkey
hunting experiences.
T E S T I N G F O R C H R O N I C W A S T I N G D I S E A S E
Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is prion disease that attacks the brain of an infected deer, elk or
moose. Signs of the disease include excessive salivation, loss of appetite, progressive weight loss,
excessive thirst and urination, listlessness, teeth grinding, holding the head in a lowered position
and drooping ears. CWD, which is always fatal to the infected animal, is found in 35 counties across
the state. Visit cwd-info.org for more information. Game and Parks is working around the state
primarily testing hunter-harvested deer for CWD. In 2016, fi ve deer from the southeastern Nebraska
tested positive for CWD. In 2017, sampling continued in the southwest and western parts of the
state, with results pending.
PINE
RIDGE
TURKEY
HUNTING
IN
DAWES
COUNTY.
