Welcome to Nebraska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers August newsletter!

Latest:

• Nebraska BHA hosted a volunteer effort with continuing work on fence removal at Halsey National Forest on August 2^nd in association with the Nebraska Bowhunters Association Jamboree there from 7/31-8/3. Volunteers removed old fencing from Halsey improving the wildlife habitat on our public lands!      

• The Nebraska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers sent a letter to the Niobrara Council strongly opposing Nebraska LR158 2025-26, which proposes the study of the transfer of the Niobrara National Scenic River from federal management to state management. This River is a national treasure and history is filled with examples of access loss and associated habitat degradation when these unique public environments are transferred to state control.

Read our statement on that transfer here

 

• During the June “Hack and Squirt” and cleanup event at East Willow Island Wildlife Management Area, volunteers observed large amounts of trash (tires, appliances etc.) in the road ditch immediately adjacent to the WMA. The chapter contacted the Dawson County Roads administrator asking if that could be cleaned up so that it might discourage other trash from being dumped in and around the WMA. The Roads Department responded quickly and had the ditch cleaned up by the end of July. The chapter extended its gratitude to the Dawson County Roads Department for their efforts!  

 

• ACCESS LOST! Hunters and anglers are losing access to Blue Heron Wildlife Management Area just south of Gothenburg. The 61-acre WMA is owned by the Department of Transportation but was managed for public access by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Unfortunately, NGPC is returning management of that property back to DOT due to illegal dumping and trespass issues onto the neighbors. (Two other landlocked public properties that have no other public access are also being decommissioned one at Maxwell and one at Hershey).

 

• We are still waiting for a decision from the Lincoln NGPC office on opening up hunting at Hansen Memorial WMA See our update for background.  

Other News, Requests, and Reminders

• PLEASE, when you are out using our public lands and waters, report any illegal activity occurring on that public land to the local game warden or county sheriff’s office. That includes poaching, vandalism, illegal dumping, trespassing etc! Our continued access to these properties depends on it (see the Blue Heron WMA loss above). As an example, while out fishing, BHA members were recently approached by a landowner adjacent to East Sutherland Wildlife Management Area about a problem they were having. The border fence had been cut and individuals had driven, trespassed, in their field to access the other side of the WMA. Moreover, the cut wire was left in the field causing significant damage to their haying equipment. Our members reported the incident to the WMA manager and NGPC will now be placing steel girders to discourage further violations.

 

 

• Time to forage on your public lands, this heat encourages a cold drink. Make some lead plant iced tea! It goes great with fried squirrel, the season opened up August 1^st.

Lead plant tea recipe from Nebraska Games and Parks can be found HERE.