Default Mono Sans Mono Serif Sans Serif Comic Fancy Small CapsDefault X-Small Small Medium Large X-Large XX-LargeDefault Outline Dark Outline Light Outline Dark Bold Outline Light Bold Shadow Dark Shadow Light Shadow Dark Bold Shadow Light BoldDefault Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%Default Black Silver Gray White Maroon Red Purple Fuchsia Green Lime Olive Yellow Navy Blue Teal Aqua OrangeDefault 100% 75% 50% 25% 0%The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission met in Ogallala on Friday to discuss the new hunting season for rural Nebraska.
By Justin Craft
Published: Jun. 21, 2024 at 6:37 PM PDT|Updated: Jun. 21, 2024 at 8:39 PM PDT
NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (KNOP) – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission met in Ogallala on Friday to discuss the new hunting season for rural Nebraska.
In the past couple of years, Nebraska Game and Parks has seen an increase in the numbers of mountain lions across the state. Since 2023, they have recorded 70 mountain lions in Pine Ridge, 27 in Niobrara Valley and 24 in Wildcat Hills.
The commission agreed to endorse the hunting season and this is the first time of a hunting season in the Wildcat Hills. The first season will begin in January and end in February. The second season will begin on March 15 and will last until March 31.
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Furbearer and Carnivore Program Manager Sam Wilson said this should be very beneficial to keep the population contained.
“The hunting season helps hunters and provides an opportunity and helps us make sure predator populations are in balance with their prey,” said Wilson.
There are a few additional rules hunters need to follow, provided by the Nebraska Game and Parks.
- Hunters will have a permit bag limit of one mountain lion of either sex.
- Shooting hours for hunters will be sunrise to sunset
- Any mountain lion harvested must be reported to the commission within eight hours of recovering the animal, using a phone number or website specified by the Commission.
- It is against the law for a hunter to harvest a mountain lion with a spotted coat (kitten) or any mountain lion accompanying another mountain lion.
- It is against the law to hunt mountain lions without first confirming that the harvest limit or female sub-limit has not been met.
- It is against the law to hunt mountain lions with the aid of dogs, traps or bait, with the exception that dogs may be used during auxiliary season, if an auxiliary season is held.
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