The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is encouraging people to start 2025 with First Day Hikes at a state park.
“These annual guided hikes give you the chance to explore trails, snap photos, watch wildlife and participate in any planned activities,” a recent release stated.
Parks across Nebraska will host specific activities beyond hikes, too. For example, the Schramm State Park State Recreation Area near Gretna will host a winter art activity, while Ashland-area tours of the new James Family Conservatory and Nature Center at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park will take place.
Altogether, First Day Hikes are planned at Ash Hollow State Historical Park, Chadron State Park, the Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, Mahoney State Park, Fort Hartsuff, Fort Kearny, Indian Cave, Johnson Lake, Lake Ogallala, Louisville SRA, Mormon Island, Platte River State Park, Ponca State Park, Red Willow SRA, Schramm Park, Wagon Train SRA, Wildcat Hills and Windmill SRA.
Hike and activity start times are available online at outdoornebraska.gov. Search “First Day Hike” on the webpage.
Additional Game and Parks news is as follows.
Bighorn hunt applications open today
Interested hunters ages 12 and older may apply for the bighorn sheep management hunt lottery today through Jan. 13.
“This hunt is intended to balance the current ram-ewe ratio and provide additional hunting opportunity,” the Game and Parks release stated.
Two permits — with a bag limit of one male bighorn sheep that is half curl or less — will be issued to Nebraska residents. The March 1-31 season will take place in Scotts Bluff County and Banner County. A pre-hunt orientation is required and a guide service will be provided by Game and Parks.
More information is available online at outdoornebraska.gov. Hunters may turn in applications at Game and Parks district offices or service centers and by phone (402-471-1985).
New fishing regulations take effect
Nebraska anglers should be aware of fishing regulation changes that take effect Wednesday, according to a recent Nebraska Game and Parks release.
Among the rule changes, approved during commission meetings in 2024, is one for the Two Rivers State Recreation Area Trout Lake (Lake No. 5) near Yutan. Anglers there are now allowed to practice catch-and-release on trout. They'll also be able to fish the lake without a trout tag starting June 1.
Another notable rule change is related to striped bass, white bass and wiper.
“The statewide one-over size restriction is changed, increasing the length limit to 18 inches or longer in which the daily bag limit may include one fish, in inland waters,” the release stated.
All of Nebraska's fishing rule changes can be found in the 2025 Fishing Guide, which will be available online at outdoornebraska.gov or anywhere 2025 fishing permits are sold.
November firearm deer harvest down
According to a Game and Parks release, preliminary results from the 2024 November firearm deer season in Nebraska show the statewide harvest was down 2 percent from 2023 and down 24 percent from the 2019-2023 average.
“This was more successful than expected for the Nov. 16-24 season as November firearm permit quotas were reduced 13 percent from 2023 in response to declining deer populations,” the release stated.
Mule deer buck harvest increased by 9 percent from 2023, while the whitetail buck harvest (2 percent) and antlerless mule deer harvest (10) declined. The antlerless whitetail harvest, meanwhile, increased by 2 percent.
Game and Parks big game program manager Luke Meduna noted how Nebraska significantly reduced permit quotas in 2024 due to low deer numbers.
“Despite those lower deer populations and permit quotas, many Nebraska hunters found success and created great memories in the field this season,” he said.
November firearm permit success hit 40 percent overall — 2-percent higher than 2023. Final harvest numbers won't be official until after archery and muzzleloader seasons end today, and late antlerless seasons conclude Jan. 15.
