Nebraska Chapter August 2026 Update

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Nebraska BHA volunteers completed TWO stewardship events in July! On July 11, ten volunteers reposted signs on 9.6 miles of Open Fields and Waters land property boundaries that had been consumed by fire this past spring. Moose chorizo burritos were served to all. Now that signs have been reposted, hunters will be allowed access to the property during the upcoming hunting season!

 

• On July 31, nine volunteers also removed high net wire fence at Halsey National Forest! The net fence was two fences high on one side and three fences high on the other, prohibiting use of that habitat by any large mammal, especially mule and white-tailed deer. Approximately a half mile of woven wire fence was removed, immediately improving that wildlife habitat in the National Forest. The previously fenced area will now also be available for cattle grazing.
• This is the 4th year in a row that Nebraska BHA volunteers have removed net wire fence at Halsey and the longest stretch of high fence we have been able to take down to date! This was conducted during the Nebraska Bowhunters Association Jamboree.

 

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service requested comments on the possibilities of opening up additional hunting opportunities at North Platte National Wildlife Refuge. The Chapter sent a letter supporting expansion of hunting opportunities there on July 16. Stay tuned, hopefully we'll see additional access at North Platte NWR in 2027!
• On July 17, NEBHA volunteers picked up trash at five NCORPE parking areas along Somerset Road, and the road itself that bordered NCORPE. They also picked up trash at the parking area on Hershey Road. Please spend a few minutes when you're out on our public lands to clean up the area a bit. ANY public access lands are good! Not only will this help the habitat and improve the experience of future visitors, but it will also help with how neighboring landowners view public land and the people who use them. LEAVE IT BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT!

 

• There have been several updates to our chapter board. Zane Jaramillo from Scottsbluff has joined the board and will strengthen our representation in that part of the state. Mike Storrs of Juniata has rejoined the board; welcome back, Mike! Emily Anderson of Dunning is our new Forestry Habitat Director; she will inform NEBHA on key habitat issues.

Action Needed

• We very much need membership engagement events in the Lincoln and Omaha areas where a majority of our members reside. If you are interested in hosting an event in those areas, such as a social (e.g., pint night, access rally) or stewardship (e.g., trash pickup, fence removal) event, please let us know!
• Please remember our state BHA Board is completely composed of volunteers; there are no paid members. Along those lines, we are seeking to fill an additional Board member slot from the northwestern portion of the state. So if you, or someone you know, might be willing to serve on the Board, please email us!
• As noted in past newsletters, the Chapter sent a letter to all Central Platte Natural Resources District Board members asking them to open a piece of OUR public land (B1 Reservoir) to archery deer and shotgun turkey hunting. We still have not received a response, so we still need help. Please continue to contact any or all of the directors, especially those in Subdistrict 1, expressing your support for this public land access: https://www.cpnrd.org/about/directors/ Or, better yet, give them a call: 308-380-8943!

Upcoming Events

• The annual TRASHY CAT event will be held at Rockford Lake State Recreation Area on August 29 at 5 p.m. Please come join us to clean up this state recreation area and then stick around for some fishing and camaraderie!

Reminders

• Nominate a PUBLIC LANDS HERO!! The Nebraska Chapter's "Public Lands Hero Award" is presented annually to an individual who has provided dedicated and sustained service toward improving access to and/or increasing the amount of public lands available for hunters and anglers in the state. Anyone who has demonstrated this effort can be nominated, including, but not limited to, state, federal, local, and non-governmental agency personnel. Nominations can be made throughout the year by any member or supporter of Nebraska BHA. Nominations can be sent to the Board at nebraska@backcountryhunters.org and should include a detailed description of the nominee's accomplishments.