Firearm Deer Season Opens Nov. 10

LINCOLN – Nebraska’s nine-day firearm deer season opens Nov. 10, giving individuals an opportunity to share a hunt with family or friends.

As of Nov. 5, deer permits remain in the following management units: Blue Southeast, Buffalo Whitetail, Calamus East, Calamus West, Keya Paha, Loup East, Loup West, Missouri, Plains, and Platte Whitetail.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission also reminds hunters:

-- Cash donations to the Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program are encouraged so it can continue to feed Nebraskans in need by providing ground venison. HHH contracts with processors, who prepare and package ground venison from donated deer. Charitable organizations then pick up and distribute venison to Nebraskans. For more information about HHH or to make a cash donation, visit Outdoornebraska.gov/hhh.

-- Ahead of the harvest, hunters should locate a check station near their location. Firearm deer hunters and archers harvesting deer during the November firearm season must deliver their deer to a check station no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season. To find a complete list of available check stations, as well as a map, visit Outdoornebraska.gov/deer.

-- Lymph node samples to be tested for chronic wasting disease (CWD) will be collected from select harvested deer at check stations in the Pine Ridge, Plains, Sandhills, Keya Paha, Calamus West and Loup West management units. Learn more about CWD at OutdoorNebraska.gov/cwd/.

-- Nebraskans who want to donate or receive harvested deer can participate in the Deer Exchange, which is designed to accommodate the additional harvest of deer. It brings together hunters who have a surplus of deer with recipients willing to accept the deer meat. To join, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov/deerexchangeprogram.

-- Hunters should keep safety the top priority in the field by always keeping their rifle muzzle pointed in a safe direction, with safety on, and finger off the trigger, until they are ready to fire. They also should identify their target and what lies beyond it before firing. In addition, all deer hunters are required to wear 400 square inches of blaze orange on their head, chest and back during the November firearm season, regardless if they are hunting with a firearm or archery tackle.

To purchase a deer permit online, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov.

Mountain Lion Killed In Gordon

LINCOLN – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission officials have confirmed that a mountain lion reported within the city limits of Gordon was killed by the Gordon Police Department on the evening of Monday, Nov. 5.

The response was consistent with Game and Parks’ policy for addressing occurrences of mountain lions in municipalities. The policy may be found in the Nebraska Mountain Lion Response Plan.

The 55-pound male cat was approximately a year old.

Gordon is located in northwestern Nebraska’s Sheridan County.

In June, Game and Parks commissioners approved a hunting season for mountain lions in the Pine Ridge that aims to lower mountain lion densities – a response to public concerns and Commission research. The season is scheduled Jan. 1-Feb. 28, 2019.

More information about mountain lions in Nebraska may be found at outdoornebraska.org/mountainlions.

Winners Named in Great Park Pursuit

LINCOLN – After a markedly successful season, several teams took home prizes in the 2018 Great Park Pursuit challenge.

Teams visited up to 20 Nebraska parks and areas of outdoor interest, logging their visits to enter drawings for various prizes. The Furr Fam team claimed the $1,500 grand prize, while other teams took home a $750 outdoor package, an iPad, and a two-night cabin stay in a Nebraska state park, among other prizes.

New this year was the incorporation of a Great Park Pursuit app for Android and iOS. “The app we created made it easier than ever to participate,” said organizer Tracy Stratman.

The program also saw a significant increase in participation. This year, 818 teams took part in the challenge, an increase of more than 50 percent, and park visits were up nearly 20 percent from last year, Stratman said. Teams may hold as many as 10 people.

The Great Park Pursuit is a joint program of the Nebraska Recreation & Park Association and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

A full list of winning teams can be found at negpp.org. Registration for the next Great Park Pursuit begins in April 2019.