Welcome to Nebraska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers December newsletter!

Latest:

• The Nebraska Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers hosted a tailgate event in Lincoln on November 28th before the Husker- Hawkeye game. Iowa BHA was invited to attend as well. We had 20-30 folks show up and another 100-150 pass through. The chapter distributed magazines and, THANKS to Elkhorn Coffee and board member Collin Kelly, 22 bags of the BHA public grounds roast were distributed! Again, we thank Ryan Sewell for hosting the event!

• Disappointing news, the Central Platte Natural Resources District turned down your Chapter’s request to open up a piece of property for archery deer and turkey hunting at their November meeting. No reason was provided. We will continue to pursue opening up access to this area as well as other NRD locations across the state. (See the July newsletter for details on the CPNRD property ) Please feel free to contact the CPNRD directors if you are interested in having this property opened up HERE 

• The Chapter has repeatedly asked Nebraska Game and Parks to open up Hansen Memorial Wildlife Management Area and Wanamaker Wildlife Management Area to some type of hunting, with little progress. NGPC currently operates these areas as “refuges”. The Chapter’s position is that with so little public land open for hunting in the state, these public land areas should be open to some type of hunting, be that archery, upland game, etc. In the case of Hansen, the chapter has provided volunteer hours researching the background of that site.

 

Other News, Requests, and Reminders

 

• ACCESS LOST. As noted in the November newsletter

  hunters and anglers lost 272 acres of Interstate 80 state Wildlife Management Areas and access to some Iron Horse Trail WMA tracts in Gage County. These spots are no longer WMAs and no longer open to any public access. In order to stay abreast of this potential loss of WMA access please follow the public notices on the Nebraska Game and Parks public notices HERE 

  IF WE want to maintain access to specific pieces of our WMA public property we must follow these announcements and speak up. As always if you hear of potential loss of access to public lands in the state, notify the Nebraska BHA chapter. We need to get ahead of these losses before they occur.

 

• Nebraska Deer and Game Expo Chapter will have a booth again at this years Deer and Game Expo in Lincoln on January 16^th to the 18^th at the Sandhills Global Event Center. Checkout the Expo’s website HERE for more details. See you there. 

 

• Stay tuned, the Chapter is setting up a volunteer event for Valentine National Wildlife Refuge in Cherry County in March 2026! Volunteers will be removing old fence that affects grouse, deer, and antelope habitat on the refuge. Please consider joining us at beautiful Valentine NWR!

 

• Nominate a PUBLIC LANDS HERO!! Established in 2025, the Nebraska BHA Chapter’s “Public Lands Hero Award” is presented annually to an individual who has provided dedicated and sustained service towards 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 the Nebraska BHA. Nominations can be sent to the Board at nebraska@backcountryhunters.org and should include a detailed description of the nominee’s accomplishments.

 

About Nebraska BHA
Nebraska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is here to speak for our greatest legacy; Nebraska’s lands and waters. We will ensure that our children receive the legacy that was given to us, improved and protected by the people who have come to love it.

Stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, and learn more at Chapter webpage .