Welcome to Nebraska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers May newsletter!

Latest: 

• The state of Nebraska continues to lag behind neighboring states, and indeed any state outside of the eastern seaboard, in terms of its OUTDOOR RECREATION ECONOMY   https://www.bea.gov/news/2026/outdoor-recreation-economic-statistics-us-and-states-2024. We believe this is largely due to the lack of public land access in Nebraska.    Our politicians would serve the state’s citizens and rural communities well by promoting access to, and acquisition of, public land. There is currently a vast amount of our public land under Natural Resource District (NRD),  Department of Transportation (DOT), Bureau of  Education Land Funds (BELF), and the Public Power Districts (PPD) that should be open to our citizens that is not. As seen in past newsletters, we are also attempting to have Nebraska Game and Parks Wildlife Management Areas that are treated as refuges opened up as well as specific sites under Natural Resource District management (e.g., NCORPE with TPNRD and reservoir B1 with CPNRD). By improving public land access these agencies would not only help hunters and anglers but the adjacent rural economies. It is well documented that public access has a tremendous positive influence on our rural communities. https://headwaterseconomics.org/public-lands/public-lands-vital-to-local-economies/ We encourage Chapter members to contact their local unicameral senator and geographic NGPC commissioner to promote programs opening our NRD, DOT, BELF, and PPD land! 
• Along those lines, the Chapter is hosting a webinar  with Pat Molini, assistant division administrator with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at 7 pm March 14th. He will discuss NGPC public access efforts. All BHA members are welcome to join in. Webinar details will be provided by email and social media prior to the event.

 

ACTION NEEDED

 

• The Chapter sent a letter to all the Central Platte Natural Resources District Board members asking them to open a piece of our public land (B1reservoir) to archery deer and shotgun turkey hunting. We made this request last year and did not receive a response. Please contact any or all of the directors expressing your support for this public land access and ask them to make a decision on this issue https://www.cpnrd.org/about/directors/  or better yet give them a call 3083856282 or 3083856282

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

• We have three upcoming events, first Trashy Cat will be held later this month in eastern Nebraska, date and location to be announced. It will be an all day cleanup and fishing event. Next in June, there will be a Pint Night on June 10th at a brew pub in Omaha, location to be announced. Finally, we will have a Fence Removal effort in conjunction with Nebraska Bowhunters Association in July 30-August 2 at Halsey National Forest https://nebraskabowhunters.com/Jamboree23  Details for all these events will be provided by email and social media. Please come out and support your chapter’s efforts!

 

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 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. 
• Please spend a few minutes each time you’re out fishing, hunting, foraging, etc. on public lands to clean up the area a bit. ANY public access lands are good! We certainly would encourage you to do so and send us a photo of the trash pickup and its location. Not only will this help the environment and improve the experience of future visitors to the site but also help with how adjacent landowners view public land and the people that use them.