2011 NE Waterfowl Hunting Guide

8/3/2019 2011 NE Waterfowl Hunting Guide

1/16

2011Season Information for:

Early Teal

Duck and Goose

Light Goose Conservation Order

WA

TER

FOW

LG

UIDE

OutdoorNebraska.org


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2 | 2011 Waterowl Guide

Duck Identifcation (more on inside back cover)

Blue-Winged Teal

Wood Duck

Green-Winged Teal

Northern Shoveler

Gadwall

Northern Pintail


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2011 Waterowl Guide | 3

NEW FOR 2011 Tere is no early Canada goose season in 2011. (See page 10) Boundary changes or duck zones and dark goose units. (See pages 8 and 10)

GENERAL HUNTING REGULATIONS

PERMIS AND SAMPSNebraska residents 16 years o age and older and all nonresidents regardless o age whohunt waterowl in Nebraska are required to have:

A current Nebraska Hunting Permit Residents - $14; Nonresidents - $81 A Nebraska Habitat Stamp $20 A Nebraska Waterowl Stamp $5 A Federal Migratory Bird Stamp (Duck Stamp), which can be purchased rom U.S.

Post Oces and is valid through June 30, 2012

A current HIP registration number, only Nebraska residents under 16 years o age areexempt

HUNER EDUCAIONRequired or all hunters ages 12 through 29:

Hunting with either a rearm or archery equipment must have on their personproo o successul completion o Firearm Hunter Education.

Hunting big game with archery equipment must carry proo o successulcompletion o Bow Hunter Education.

Who have not completed a Firearm Hunter and/or Bow Hunter Education coursemay obtain an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certicate rom Gameand Parks.

HUNER EXEMPION CERIFICAEApprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certicate provides the novice hunter age12 and older an opportunity to try hunting and receive training rom an experienced

hunter beore completing Hunter Education. A hunter using this certicate must beaccompanied* at all times while hunting. Tis certicate may be obtained once in eachpersons lietime, expires on Dec. 31 and may be renewed once. Te ee is $5.

*Accompanied is dened as: in the presence o a licensed experienced hunter age 19or older. Tere may be no more than two hunters using the certicate accompanied bythe experienced hunter at any time and the experienced hunter must at all times bein unaided visual and verbal communication with the child under age 12 and/or theapprentice hunter ages 12 through 29. Te experienced hunter must, i age 19-29, becertied in hunter education.


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HARVES INFORMAION PROGRAMAnyone planning to hunt doves, ducks, geese, snipe, rail, coot or woodcock between Aug.1, 2011, and July 31, 2012, must register with the Harvest Inormation Program (HIP)beore hunting even i they registered or the 2010 hunting seasons. Te goal o theprogram is to help state and ederal wildlie managers estimate the number o migratorybirds harvested each year. Te estimates will help biologists set limits and seasons.

Residents, nonresidents even those already registered in another state lietime permitholders, veterans and over 70, ee-exempt permit holders must register. Registration isree. Hunters may register 24 hours a day at OutdoorNebraska.org, nehip.com or callingby 877-634-8687.

Nebraska Hunting Permits and stamps are available rom Game and Parks oces andpermit agents across the state, as well as at OutdoorNebraska.org.

For more on residency requirements and reduced price senior and veteran permits, visit

OutdoorNebraska.org.

OHER REGULAION INFORMAIONMethods o ake: Only archery equipment and shotguns 10 gauge or smaller may beused. For migratory birds, shotguns must be plugged so the combined capacity o thechamber and magazine is no more than three shells. Ries and crossbows cannot be usedto hunt migratory birds. Electronic calls are prohibited or all waterowl hunting duringthe all seasons. Electronic calls can be used or crows.

ransporting Game: All migratory birds except doves must have one ully eathered wingor head plumage attached when in transport. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org or additionalrules about game being transported by someone other than the owner or by a commercialcarrier.

Nontoxic Shot: It is unlawul to use or possess shotgun shells loaded with or containingshot other than nontoxic shot while hunting, taking or attempting to take waterowl.Nontoxic shot is required or all shotgun hunting on ederal waterowl production areasand national wildlie reuges and, as posted, some state wildlie management areas. For thelatest legal shot types, check the waterowl section at OutdoorNebraska.org.

Legal Nontoxic Shot

Bismuth-tin ungsten-matrix

Iron (steel) ungsten-polymer

Iron-tungsten ungsten-tin-iron

Iron-tungsten-nickel ungsten-tin-bismuth

ungsten-bronze ungsten-tin-iron-nickel

ungsten-iron-copper-nickel ungsten-iron-polymer

Wanton Waste: Hunters must ensure that all game is used to its ullest potential. Personsound guilty o wasting game birds will pay a ne and liquidated damages o $75 per bird.


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Waterowl Blinds: All blinds must be removed daily rom Game and Parks staterecreation areas (SRA) and wildlie management areas (WMA), except that seasonalblinds may be built on the WMA portions o Calamus, Elwood, Enders (the nonreugeportion), Lewis and Clark, Lake McConaughy, Medicine Creek, Merritt, Red Willow,Sherman, and Swanson. Such blinds must be removed at the end o the waterowl season.

Use o these blinds is on a rst-come, rst-served basis, except at Lewis and Clark. A

special permit is required and dierent regulations apply or blinds on Lewis and Clark.Contact the U.S. Army Corps o Engineers at 402-667-7873, ext. 3245 or 3247.

LEG BANDSU.S. Fish and Wildlie Service leg bands recovered rom birds may be reported atwww.reportband.govor by calling 800-327-2263.

HUNING ON SAE RECREAION AREASHunting is permitted on many state recreation areas rom the rst uesday ollowingLabor Day through conclusion o the spring turkey season, unless prohibited or restrictedby appropriate signs or specic area regulations.

U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE REGULAIONSFor a summary, visit: outdoornebraska.ne.gov/hunting/pd/usws_regs.pd

For complete regulations visit: ws.gov/hunting/

NOICE: his guide is not a legal notice or a complete collection o huntingregulations and laws. It is a condensed guide issued or hunters convenience. You canind a complete copy o the regulations at OutdoorNebraska.org.

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EARLY TEAL SEASONLow Plains Sept. 3-18High Plains Sept. 10-18Daily Bag Limit: 4 in aggregate (Blue-, Green-winged and Cinnamon eal)Possession Bag Limit: 8Shooting Hours: 30 minutes beore sunrise to sunset

Helpul eal Hunting ips: Blue-winged teal have blue patches on the upper surace o their wings. Shovelers also

have blue patches on their wings, but have an enlarged bill and are larger in size. eal tend to y in tight, compact ocks. Teir ight is rapid and appears erratic. Female teal have a raspy, rapid call while males have a single note whistle. eal will readily decoy, so use them to bring birds in closer to aid in identication.

Pass shooting is not recommended.

eal preer shallow waters, such as those commonly ound in the Rainwater Basinarea and along shallow margins o ponds, lakes and reservoirs. Look or areas with lots o mud ats and sparse vegetation.

Contact the nearest Game and Parks oce or visit OutdoorNebraska.orgor inormation

regarding hunting on state recreation areas during this season.

L62A

61

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92

283

26

26

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385

S io u xS io u x

D a w e sD a w e s

S h e r id a nS h e r id a nC h e r r yC h e r r y

K e y aK e y a

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H o l tH o l t

K n o xK n o xC e d a r C e d a r

B r o w nB r o w n R o c kR o c k

D ix o nD ix o n

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B u t teB u t te P ie r c eP ie r c eA n te lo p eA n te lo p e WayneWayne T h u r s to nT h u r s to n

G r a n tG r a n t H o o k e r H o o k e r C u min gC u min gS c o t tsS c o t ts

B lu f f B lu f f

S ta n to nS ta n to n

T h o ma sT h o ma sMa d is o nMa d is o n

B la in eB la in eW h e e le r W h e e le r G a r f ie ldG a r f ie ld

L o u pL o u p

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B a n n e r B a n n e r A r th u r A r th u r D o d g e

D o d g eMc P h e r s o nMc P h e r s o n C o l fa xC o l fa xP la t teP la t teL o g a nL o g a n

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F r o n t ie r F r o n t ie r

F i l l m o r eF i l l m o r e

C la yC la y

G o s p e r G o s p e r

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F u r n a sF u r n a s

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L o wL o w

P l a i n sP l a i n s

H i g hH i g h


A r e aA r e a

C l o s e dC l o s e d

Area Closed

High Plains

Low Plains

TEAL ZONES


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DUCK SEASONSLow Plains Early Oct. 8 - Dec. 18 and Dec. 23-24Low Plains Late Oct. 15-16 and Oct. 22 - Jan. 1, 2012High Plains Oct. 8 - Jan. 11, 2012Shooting Hours: 30 minutes beore sunrise to sunset

Daily Bag/Possession Limits: Six ducks. May include no more than ve mallards (o whichno more than two can be hens), three wood ducks, two redheads, two scaup (lesser orgreater), one canvasback, and two pintails. Te possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Merganser Bag/Possession Limits: Te daily bag or mergansers is ve, which mayinclude no more than two hooded mergansers. Mergansers do not count toward the dailybag and possession limits or other ducks. Te possession limit is twice the daily bag limit.

Become a Hunter EducationVolunteer Instructor

Are you interested in making a difference?Get involved volunteer.To learn more, contact Mike Streeter at

[email protected] 402-471-6134

L o wL o w


E a r l yE a r l y

L o w P l a i n sL o w P l a i n s

E a r l yE a r l y

L o w P l a i n s L a t eL o w P l a i n s L a t e

H i g hH i g h


L o w P l a i n sL o w P l a i n s

L a t eL a t e

L o wL o w


E a r l yE a r l y

S io u xS i o u x

D a w e sD a w e s

S h e r id a nS h e r id a n C h e r r yC h e r r y

K e y aK e y a

P a h aP a h aB o y dB o y d

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K n o xK n o x C e d a r C e d a r B r o w nB r o w n

R o c kR o c k

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T h u r s to nT h u r s to n

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B l u f f B lu f f S ta n to nS ta n to nT h o ma sT h o ma s Ma d is o nMa d is o nB la in eB la in e

W h e e le r W h e e l e r G a r f i e l dG a r f i e l d

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F r o n t ie r F r o n t ie r

F i l l m o r eF i l l m o r e

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F r a n k l inF r a n k l in

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High Plains

Low Plains Early

Low Plains Late

D u c k Z o n e sD u c k Z o n e s

Detailed map on page 8.

DUCK ZONES


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DUCKZONES

-DETAILED


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LIGHT GOOSE REGULAR SEASONStatewide: Oct. 8 - Jan. 4, 2012, and Jan. 21. - Feb. 5, 2012Daily Bag Limit: 20Possession Limit: NoneShooting Hours: 30 minutes beore sunrise to sunset.

Equipment Restrictions: Te use o unplugged shotguns and electronic calls IS NOALLOWED while hunting light geese or any other waterowl during this season.

LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDERZone 1: Feb. 6 - April 15, 2012Zone 2: Feb. 6 - April 1, 2012Zone 3: Feb. 6 - April 15, 2012

Daily Bag and Possession Limit: NoneShooting Hours: 30 minutes beore sunrise to 30 minutes afer sunset

Equipment Restrictions: Te use o unplugged shotguns and electronic calls ISALLOWED while hunting light geese during the conservation order.

During the Light Goose Conservation Order, hunting will be allowed statewide with theexception o several state wildlie management areas and ederal waterowl productionareas in the Rainwater Basin region o central Nebraska. Hunting will be limited to ourdays per week (Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Tursday) in the region.

Zone RestrictionsWhite and blue-phase snow geese and Ross geese may be taken statewide during theconservation action, but dierent regulations apply in each zone. In Zones 1 and 2,hunting will be allowed our days a week (Saturday, Sunday, Wednesday, and Tursday).Beginning March 24, hunting will be allowed seven days a week.

Zone 1It is illegal: to hunt within a hal-mile o the outer channel o the Platte River between U.S.

Highway 281 and Nebraska Highway 14. to hunt on ederal or state sanctuaries and reuges, unless authorized, and on the

ollowing lands owned or managed by Game and Parks or U.S. Fish and WildlieService.

Zone 1 Closed Areas: Massie WPA Hultine WPA Springer WPA

Wilkins WPA Bluebill WMA

Verona WPA Pintail WMA Eckhardt WPA Nelson WPA

Kirkpatrick Basin North WMA Swan Creek WMA


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Zone 2It is illegal: to hunt light geese within a hal-mile o the outer channel o the Platte River between

Feb. 6 and March 10. Te no-hunting zone expands to 3 miles between March 11 andApril 1 to provide protection or endangered whooping cranes.

to hunt on ederal or state sanctuaries and reuges, unless authorized, and on theollowing lands owned or managed by Game and Parks or U.S. Fish and Wildlie

Service.Zone 2 Closed Areas: Funk WPA Prairie Dog WPA

Bluestem WPA Lindau WPA Clark WPA

Zone 3 (the conservation order will be open seven days a week)It is illegal: to hunt light geese within 3 miles o the outside channel o the Platte River between

U.S. Highway 283 and U.S. Highway 281 between March 11 and April 15. to hunt light geese on ederal or state sanctuaries and reuges unless otherwiseauthorized.

STATUS OF SNOW GOOSE POPULATIONSMuch eort has been put toward reducing the mid-continent population o snow geese.Tis population attracts attention because o the damage to Arctic habitats it has caused.

Te use o methods to increase harvest has resulted in more than 1 million snow geese

being harvested each year since 1998, with nearly 1.5 million taken in 1999. It is stillestimated that 1.4 million snow geese would have to be harvested annually to reduce thepopulation.

Tis high annual harvest rate is dicult to achieve because snow geese have proven to bevery adaptable by reacting to various hunting tactics and using new or dierent habitats inthe North.

Have all o the eforts helped?

Surveys conducted rom 1979 to 1999 show the population growing at a rate o 5 percentper year. In 2009, the survey indicated the population slightly declined or remainedstable. It still may be too early to assess the success o the reduction eorts. It appears theincreased hunting pressure has assisted in curbing snow goose population growth.

Te success o the liberal hunting seasons and conservation action will be determined bythe end o the damage and subsequent recovery o Arctic habitats.


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L i g h t G o o s e Z o n e sL i g h t G o o s e Z o n e s

Z o n e 3Z o n e 3

Z o n e 1Z o n e 1

Z o n e 2Z o n e 2

S iouxS ioux

DawesDawes

Sher idanSher idanCher r yCher r y

KeyaKeya

PahaPahaBoydBoyd

Ho l tHo l t

KnoxKnoxCedar Cedar

B rownBrown RockRock

D ixonD ixon

Dako taDako t a

Bo xBo x

Bu t t eBu t t e P ie r ceP ie r ceAn te lopeAn te lope WayneWayne Thurs tonThurs ton

G ran tG ran t Hooker Hooker CumingCumingSco t t sSco t t s

B lu f f B lu f f S t an tonS tan tonThomasThomas Mad isonMad isonB la ineB la ine Whee le r Whee le r Ga r f i e l dGar f i e l dLoupLoup

Mor r i l lMor r i l l

Bu r tBu r t

GardenGardenBooneBoone

Banner Banner A r t hu r A r t hu r Dodge

DodgeMcPhersonMcPherson Co l f axCo l f axP la t t eP la t t eLoganLogan

Cus te r Cus t e r

G r ee l eyG ree l eyVal leyVal leyWash ing tonWash ing ton

NanceNance

CheyenneCheyenneK imba l lK imba l l

Bu t l e r Bu t l e r Saunder sSaunder sKe i t hKe i t h

Doug lasDoug las

L inco lnL inco ln

Po lkPo lk

Mer r i ckMer r i ckHowardHowardShermanSherman

Deue lDeue l Sa rpySarpy

Hami l t onHami l t on

CassCass

Lancas t e r Lancas t e r

SewardSeward

YorkYorkDawsonDawson Ha l lHa l l

Bu f f a loBu f f a loPer k insPer k ins

O toeO toe

ChaseChase HayesHayes

Sa l i neSa l i ne

F ron t i e r F r on t i e r F i l lmoreF i l lmoreC layC layGosper Gosper AdamsAdams

KearneyKearneyPhe lpsPhe lps NemahaNemahaJohnsonJohnson

GageGage

DundyDundy H i t chcockH i t chcock Je f f e r sonJe f f e r sonRe dRe d

Wi l l owWi l l ow Thayer Thayer Nucko l l sNucko l l sFu rnasFurnas Har l anHar l an Webs te r Webs t e r F r ank l i nF r ank l i n R ichardsonR ichardsonPawneePawnee

Zone 1

Zone 2

Zone 3

30

8114

92

4

66

15

15

44

6

281

6

34

81

34

281

283

30

Z o n e 1Z o n e 1

Z o n e 2Z o n e 2

B u t l e r B u t l e r P o l kP o l k

M er r i ckM e r r i c k

H am i l to nH am i l to nS ew ar dS ew ar dYorkYork

D aw so nD aw so n

H a l lH a l l

B u f f a l oB u f f a l o

S a l i n eS a l i n eF i l l m o r eF i l l m o r eC l ayC l a yGo sp er Go sp er

A d am sA d am sK e a r n e yK ear n eyP h e l p sP h e l p s

J e f f e r s o nJ e f f e r s o nT h ay er T h ay er N u c k o l l sN u c k o l l sF u r n asF u r n as H ar l anH ar l an W eb ste r W eb ste r F r a n k l i nF r an k l i n

Zone 1

Zone 2

L i g h t G o o s e Z o n e sL i g h t G o o s e Z o n e s

Stopping Poachers

Call 1-800-742-7627to report game violations

You can remain anonymous andmight be eligible for a cash reward.

1-800-742-7627

WILDLIFECRIMESTOPPERS

STOPPOACHING

1-800-742-7627

WILDLIFECRIMESTOPPERS

STOPPOACHING

Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers

LIGHT GOOSE CONSERVATION ORDER ZONES


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CONSERVATION OFFICERS

ADMINISRAIONLincolnTedBlume402-471-5531 CraigStover402-471-5532

NORHWESAllianceJim Zimmerman (S)308-763-2940GregHesse308-760-3647

GeringScottBrandt308-631-0663

Gordon

HeathPackett308-360-0682HarrisonDanKling308-430-0572

Valentine

FrankMiller402-389-0444

NORHEASBassettDaleDavis402-760-0712

ColumbusSteveOberg402-910-3366

FremontDanielRoberts402-719-1108

FullertonRandyPomplun308-550-0489

Hartington

JefJones402-762-5022KennardJonReeves402-889-8508

NorolkTomZimmer(S)402-370-3374

NelighTimWilliams402-929-0051

ONeillPatrickGeorge402-340-0787

OrdDougPollard308-778-7101

West PointCoryKrause402-380-6410

SOUHWESBroken BowRayDierking308-870-0322

CozadMichaelome308-529-8146

DoniphanTerryBrentzel402-469-5795

ElwoodMattAndrews308-746-2418

ImperialDirkGreene308-882-0015

KearneyJerryPecha(S)308-865-5327DaleJohnson308-440-3847

North PlatteRoger Tompson (S)308-535-8025

DudleySorensen308-530-0016OgallalaDennisompson308-289-0755NicholasFix308-289-0427

Republican CityRichRouth308-920-0367

SOUHEASAshland

SeanMcKeehan402-521-0159AuburnWilliamKrause402-274-8063

ColonMikeLuben402-443-6392

CortlandDanZuehlke402-806-9084

GretnaDuaneArp(S)402-332-2965

HebronDarinGress402-768-8665

LincolnDouglasKramer402-890-6465DinaBarta402-890-6463StaceyLewton402-890-7140

LouisvilleLeviKrause402-949-0593

MilordRobertFinke402-947-1363

Nebraska CityRussellMort402-209-1506

PapillionDanEvasco402-616-5961

ValleyJefClauson402-658-7057

(S) Denotes area supervisor


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American Wigeon

Mallard

Scaup

Ring-necked Duck

Redhead

Canvasback

Duck Identifcation (more on inside ront cover)


16/16

2011 NE Waterfowl Hunting Guide

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Transcript of 2011 NE Waterfowl Hunting Guide