LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider a staff recommendation to authorize one auction and one lottery permit for the 2019 bighorn sheep season when it meets Aug. 16 in Valentine.
The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Niobrara Lodge, 803 E. U.S. Hwy. 20. St.
In other business, a public hearing will be held for input regarding the potential listing and delisting of state threatened and endangered species within District 6 (north-central Nebraska).
Also, Game and Parks staff will propose a plan to release the Salt Creek tiger beetle on its properties in the Little Salt Creek and Rock Creek drainages of southeastern Nebraska in order to advance the recovery and delisting of the species. The beetle is listed as endangered by Game and Parks as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Commission also will consider recommendations to:
— accept the Thomas C. Matter tract in Richardson County as a gift from the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation. If approved, the 153.11 acres in two tracts would be designated the Thomas C. Matter Wildlife Management Area.
— approve a permanent easement request from the City of Norfolk to place a sewer line across Game and Parks’ northeast district office land.
— approve hunting seasons in specific state parks and state historical parks.
— approve the proposed budget request for fiscal years 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.
The meeting also will include a drawing for the 2018 bighorn sheep lottery permit. There also will be presentations by the Sandhills Task Force and on the potential use of falcons for abatement. Staff will provide a preview of the upcoming upland game seasons and a report on Valentine National Wildlife Refuge fisheries projects.
A complete meeting agenda is available at http://outdoornebraska.gov/commissioners.
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