During this International Color Blindness Awareness Month, Nebraska Game and Parks is launching its campaign to make the outdoors more enjoyable to those with color blindness.

About 8% of men and .5% of women are color blind, and people with red-green color vision deficiency — the most common type of color blindness — only see about 10% of the 1 million hues and shades visible to those with regular color vision.

Instead of vibrant reds, oranges, yellows and greens when trees turn in the fall, they may see a sea of yellow or a field of washed-out color.

To help them experience more vibrant, enhanced color outdoors, Game and Parks is working to bring EnChroma color-blindness kits to parks across the state. The kits costs about $850 and include glasses for the most common types of color deficiency.

Donations are being accepted for the Parks in Full Color Campaign at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Once enough funding is received, Wildcat Hills Nature Center, Schramm Education Center and Ponca State Park will receive kits, with additional parks added as funding becomes available. Guests will be able to check out the glasses to enhance their park visit.

The first two individuals or organizations to sponsor a kit will receive a complimentary pair of EnChroma Outdoor Deutan Lens glasses, valued at $379, courtesy of EnChroma as a part of the campaign launch.

Donate, learn more or take the EnChroma colorblindness test at OutdoorNebraska.gov; search “EnChroma.”

Apply Oct. 1-31 for antlerless state park deer hunts

Hunters will have a chance to pursue deer at three state park areas along the lower Platte River this fall and winter.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering special antlerless deer hunting opportunities within Eugene T. Mahoney and Platte River state parks and Schramm Park State Recreation Area.

Successful applicants will be issued a special access permit that allows them to hunt antlerless deer in designated areas of a park on certain dates, using specific equipment. Successful applicants and interested alternates must attend an orientation session before receiving the access permit.

Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted from 8 a.m. Central Time Oct. 1 through 5 p.m. Oct. 31. If more applications are received than can be accommodated, a drawing will be held Nov. 4.

Hunters may obtain an application at OutdoorNebraska.gov or by calling Mahoney SP at 402-944-2523, ext. 7122, Platte River SP at 402-234-2217, Schramm Education Center at 402-332-3901, or the Southeast District Game and Parks office at 402-471-5431. Individual, mentor and buddy applications are available.

Legal equipment at Mahoney and Platte River state parks are archery and muzzleloaders. The legal equipment at Schramm Park SRA is archery.

Hunters must have an appropriate deer permit, habitat stamp and access permit. Each vehicle entering the park is required to have a state park sticker.  

The following are the hunting opportunities, with park, legal equipment and dates:

• Mahoney SP and Platte River SP – archery, Dec. 2-5, Dec. 9-12, Dec. 16-19
• Mahoney SP and Platte River SP – muzzleloader, Jan. 6-9 and Jan. 13-15
• Schramm Park SRA – archery, Dec. 2-5, Dec. 9-12, Dec. 16-19, Jan. 6-9, and Jan. 13-15

Successful applicants will be assigned a hunting period at a park, according to their preference. Hunting sites for disabled hunters will be available at Mahoney SP.

Only antlerless deer may be harvested. Appropriate deer permits for archery hunters are: Statewide Archery, Antlerless Only Season Choice Wahoo or Statewide Youth. Archery hunting in January at Schramm requires an Antlerless Only Season Choice Wahoo permit; archery tags are not valid. Muzzleloader hunters must have an Antlerless Only Season Choice Wahoo or a Statewide Youth Permit. Some permits are limited and may sell out before these park hunts.

Orientation sessions will be Nov. 26 for archers and Dec. 9 for muzzleloaders. Each session will take place at the Schramm Education Center classroom at 7 p.m.

For more information, call the Southeast District Office or one of the participating parks.

Carrizales a repeat champion in 2024 Smallbore Silhouette Invitational

Defending champion Gavin Carrizales of Scottsbluff hit 38 of 40 targets to win the Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational on Sept. 28 at Pressey Wildlife Management Area south of Broken Bow.

The championship is the third for the high school sophomore. In 2020, in only his second year of eligibility, the then-12-year-old shot the first perfect score in the event’s history. He hit 35 targets last year for his second championship.

High Girl Meighan Smith of Murdock hit 37 targets.

Carrizales, Makenna Quick of Alliance, Laney Bohl of Mitchell, and Lilian DeWitt of Minatare teamed up to give the Western Nebraska Shooting Sports its sixth straight team championship, hitting 132 of 160 targets.

The annual event, which was established in 1977, is open to all Hunter Education graduates who are at least 11 years old and have not graduated high school.

“I would like to congratulate all of the competitors, not only for their safe firearm handling, but for their overall performance,” Match Director Matthew Haumont said. “The hot temperatures and unexpected wind gusts made the day's event a challenge for competitors of all experience levels. Saturday's heat challenged everyone's endurance.”

The 73 competitors from across the state fired 40 rounds of .22 caliber ammunition with a rifle unsupported and offhand at steel silhouette targets that were 43, 66, 84 and 109 yards in distance.

The 49^th annual Smallbore Invitational is scheduled for Sept. 27, 2025.

The results are:

Individual Awards

State Champion – Gavin Carrizales, Scottsbluff, 38 of 40

High Girl – 1. Meighan Smith, Murdock, 37; 2. Lilian DeWitt, Minatare, 33 (won shoot-off); 3. Laney Bohl, Mitchell, 33

High Boy – 1. Bereket Glendy, Broken Bow, 35 (won shoot-off); 2. Tristan Connell, Waterbury, 35; 3. Cameron Wagner, Seward, 34

Class B – 1. Ian Schiller, Scribner, 33; 2. Laura Borgelt, Wisner, 31; 3. Isaac Wooldrik, West Point, 30

Unclassified – 1. Emily Nelson, Scottsbluff, 31; 2. Axton Sugden, Seward, 30; 3. Boone Button, Harrison, 29

Senior Division – 1. Zane Meyer, Milford, 29 (tie broken by hits on furthest distance); 2. Isaac Enns, Holmesville, 29; 3. Makenna Quick, Alliance, 28

Junior Division – 1. Jenna Oman, Kearney, 28; 2. Ryder Asher, Atkinson, 27; 3. Lynn Miner, Emmet, 22

Heavy Scope – 1. Ryan Rempel, Beatrice, 28; 2. Konnar Jones, Pierce, 26; 3. Allan Brenner, Wayne, 24

Light Scope – 1. Noah Papiernik, Ord, 26 (tie broken by hits on furthest distance); 2. Jesse Oltmans, Beatrice, 26; 3. Wesley Thompson, Lexington, 23

Heavy Iron – 1. Taylor Kinnison, Kearney, 21; 2. Daniel Seiler, Omaha, 3

Light Iron – 1. Grayhm Beck, Fairfield, 19; 2. Parker Walahoski, Overton, 16; 3. Evan Kinnison, Kearney, 14

Best First-Time Shooter – Brinley Baker, Kearney, 11

Novice Light Scope – 1. Lincoln Schroeder, Amherst, 6

Novice Light Iron – 1. Tilden Hird, Norris, 2

Team Awards

High Overall – Western Nebraska Shooting Sports No. 1 (Gavin Carrizales, Makenna Quick, Laney Bohl, Lilian DeWitt), 132 of 160

4-H Teams – 1. Cuming County Sharpshooters (Isaac Wooldrik, Laura Borgelt, Tripp Meier, Ian Schiller), 117; 2. Wayne County Sharpshooters (Allan Brenner, Colton Sebade, Hunter Connell, Tristan Connell), 98; 3. Western Nebraska Shooting Sports No. 2 (Boone Button, Emily Nelson, Jeremy Missel, Justin Missel), 96

Open Teams – 1. 10X Shooters (Axton Sugden, Cameron Wagner, Emma Loxterkamp, Zane Meyer), 113; 2. Open Team No. 1 (Colt Aycock, Jase Sanders, Lynn Miner, Ryder Asher), 87; 3. Single Shot Sharp Shooters (Koltyn Kuper, Meighan Smith, Micah Jochum, Tilton Button), 85

School Teams – 1. Lawrence/Nelson (Grayhm Beck, Kaden Grams, Nathan Stokes, Owen Smiley), 38

Oct. 19-20 youth pheasant season includes Special Youth Hunts

The Oct. 19-20 statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season for hunters ages 15 and younger provides an excellent opportunity to mentor new hunters.

“The annual youth season provides a great opportunity for our young hunters to get out and hunt in a more controlled environment,” said Bryan O’Connor, upland game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Resident youth (age 15 or younger) do not need a permit to hunt small game, but nonresident youth must have a small game hunting permit and habitat stamp. Only youth are allowed to hunt during the youth season, except at designated Special Youth Hunt locations, where accompanying adults also are allowed to hunt.

Game and Parks will release rooster pheasants at the following Special Youth Hunt locations/wildlife management areas (with county):

Arnold Trupp (Morrill), Arrowhead (Gage), Bordeaux (Dawes), Branched Oak (Lancaster), Cornhusker (Hall), George Syas (Nance), Hickory Ridge (Johnson), James N. Douglas (Johnson), Kirkpatrick Basin North (York), N-CORPE east tract (Lincoln), Oak Valley (Madison), Peru Bottoms (Nemaha), Powder Creek (Dixon), Pressey (Custer), Rakes Creek (Cass), Randall W. Schilling (Cass), Sherman Reservoir (Sherman), Wilkinson (Platte), and Yankee Hill (Lancaster).

At Special Youth Hunt locations, the daily bag limit is two rooster pheasants for youth and one rooster pheasant for the accompanying adult. The accompanying adult must be a licensed hunter aged 19 or older and only one adult per youth will be allowed to hunt.

Non-toxic shot is required at Kirkpatrick Basin North, Peru Bottoms, Randall W. Schilling and Wilkinson, but otherwise all other hunting regulations apply.

For more information about the youth season and a map of the pheasant release locations for youth, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov; search for “upland.”  Hunters also may contact Game and Parks at 402-471-0641.

State parks great places to go for fall stargazing

By Renae Blum

Night sky admirers have many celestial marvels to look forward to this fall, and one of the best places to catch them will be at Nebraska’s more than 70 state parks.

From comets to meteor showers, state parks across Nebraska — particularly those in the western part of the state — will provide dark skies perfect for viewing the dazzling displays. One of them, Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area, was even named an International Dark Sky Park in 2022.

Find a state park near you at OutdoorNebraska.gov and then get ready for stargazing opportunities this October, November and December. Viewing opportunities will be fairly good this time of year, said Jim Kvasnicka of Lincoln, of the Prairie Astronomy Club.

A comet visible to the naked eye

The real highlight this fall may be a comet lighting up the sky in October. Called Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, it could become visible to the naked eye — something that rarely happens, Kvasnicka said.

“Most comets, you need to use a good pair of binoculars or a telescope to see them. If this one is as bright as they say it is, you’ll be able to see it naked eye, which would be wonderful,” he said. “Those don’t happen that often.”

However, comets are notoriously unpredictable. Some have “fizzled out” despite strong predictions, so keep an eye on the news and websites like Sky & Telescope for updates, he said. If predictions hold up, the comet should be visible low in the west after sunset starting Oct. 11.

A planet shines brighter

Another opportunity will be less unpredictable. The planet Venus is starting to appear again as an evening planet, shining brightly in the west. It will continue to move higher in the sky as we approach the end of the year.

“It’s very bright and you can’t miss it,” Kvasnicka said. “Venus is actually the brightest object in the night sky, other than the moon.”

This is due to its closeness to Earth, as well as its cloudy atmosphere, which acts like a mirror to reflect sunlight, he said.

Meteor showers dazzle each month

Several meteor showers will take place in the coming months, as well. The Orionid meteor shower will peak the night of Oct. 20-21, with possibly up to 20 meteors per hour. However, the waning gibbous moon will be visible, its brightness interfering with your viewing, Kvasnicka said.

Viewers can hope for better luck with the Leonids, which peaks Nov. 17-18. It’s a modest shower, producing maybe 15 meteors an hour.

The real show is expected to come in December, with the Geminids. One of the best meteor showers of the year, it can produce up to 75 meteors per hour.

“If you get to a nice dark site, and don’t mind sitting out in the cold, you’ll see a lot of meteors,” Kvasnicka said.

The best viewing will be after midnight on Dec. 13-14, if clouds or haze from wildfires don’t interfere. Kvasnicka advises dressing warm and bringing anything that will make you comfortable, like a lawn chair or a mug of hot cocoa or coffee.

Simply enjoy the night sky

Simply sitting and watching the stars, even without meteors shooting by, can be fun in the fall and winter months. Especially in the winter, the air is drier and less humid, making objects appear crisper to the eye.

“If you look at the stars in the summer months, a lot of times they appear to be twinkling quite a bit,” Kvasnicka said. “If you look at them in the winter, they don’t twinkle near as much because the atmosphere is a lot more steady. It makes seeing a lot better.”

For most of these opportunities, special equipment isn’t needed. Binoculars are nice to have when viewing comets, Kvasnicka said, but Venus will be quite visible without it, and meteors are difficult to watch with binoculars.

Watching the night sky is a great way to relax, connect with nature and spend time with people you care about. Cap off a day at a Nebraska state park enjoying activities like hiking, camping, fishing and wildlife watching by waiting for evening to fall.

And then take in incredible sights like these.

Waterfowl hunters can prevent spread of aquatic invasive species

As waterfowl season kicks off, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters to help prevent the spread of damaging aquatic invasive species.   

Zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, brittle naiad and other aquatic invasive species can “hitchhike” on hunting gear and be spread by droplets of water or even tiny plant fragments.

Aquatic invasive species cause irreparable harm to aquatic ecosystems and waterfowl habitat, severely impeding hunting, fishing and boating for future generations.

Nebraska is one of the few states in the Midwest left without widespread zebra mussel invasions. The only water bodies in the state that have established zebra mussel populations are the Missouri River, Lewis and Clark Lake/Lake Yankton, Beaver Lake in Plattsmouth, and Offutt Air Force Base Lake.

Game and Parks’ AIS staff have noted an increase in invasive aquatic plants across Nebraska. These plants likely are being spread from one water body to the next by some boaters, anglers and hunters not taking sufficient precautions against the spread of these species. Hunters also should avoid using invasive plants, such as phragmites — an invasive, noxious wetland plant often used as camouflage — in their hunting blinds.

“Nebraska is home for us and we urgently need the public’s help to keep our waters invasive-free and stop these critters in their tracks,” said Kristopher Stahr, Game and Parks’ aquatic invasive species program manager. “Take a few moments to Clean, Drain and Dry your gear, and choose camouflaging plants wisely for your blind to help stop the spread of these aquatic invasive species.”

Nebraskans hunting out-of-state should be especially cautious to not spread invasive species into Nebraska waters.

Game and Parks regulations require anglers, hunters and boaters conduct clean, drain and dry procedures before leaving a water body. They are not allowed to arrive at a water body with any water from another water body. Hunters should remove any visible plants or mud from their gear and then clean with high pressure or hot water. They also should ensure all water is drained before leaving and to let gear dry for at least five days or wiped dry before to re-using. 

Visit stopaquatichitchhikers.org/prevention/#waterfowl-hunters for details and for more information on aquatic invasive species.

Report any suspected observation of zebra mussels or other aquatic invasive species to Game and Parks at 402-471-7602 or at [email protected].

Nebraska has many fur harvesting opportunities

Nebraska offers long seasons and abundant opportunities to harvest furbearers and coyotes throughout the state.

These animals are common in Nebraska, and most are found statewide. Regulated harvest of these mammals is an important management tool for controlling populations to reduce problems they can cause people and property.

Hunting and trapping seasons typically are designed to allow furbearer harvest during the fall and winter, when the pelts are prime, and the animals are less likely to have dependent young. This gives hunters an opportunity to earn extra income, play a role in the species management and enjoy time outdoors.

Nebraska has three furbearers that only may be trapped – muskrats, beavers and river otters. Raccoons and opossums have an early hunting-only season. Those two species, along with bobcats, badgers, mink, long-tailed weasels, red fox, gray fox and striped skunks, also have seasons where they may be hunted or trapped.

Hunting and trapping are permitted statewide, except where closed by federal, state or local laws or regulations. Hunters and trappers must get permission before hunting or trapping on private land that is not part of a public access program.

River otters have a season bag limit of one for each harvester with no overall limit. For other furbearers, there is no bag limit for Nebraska residents. Nonresidents may harvest up to 1,000 furbearers, with a fee for each additional 100 furbearers taken over 1,000.

For residents ages 16 and older, a fur harvest permit and habitat stamp are required to hunt or trap furbearers in Nebraska; no permit is needed for residents to harvest coyotes. Nonresidents need a nonresident small game permit for coyotes and a nonresident fur harvest permit and habitat stamp to harvest furbearers.

Residents may buy fur harvest permits at OutdoorNebraska.gov, but nonresident permits only may be purchased at Game and Parks’ Lincoln office. Call 402-471-5457.

Find more information on furbearer hunting and trapping in the Nebraska Small Game and Waterfowl Guide. It is available wherever permits are sold or online at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search for “Guides.”

The 2024-2025 Nebraska furbearer seasons are:

Trapping

Muskrat and beaver – Nov. 1, 2024-March 31, 2025

River otter – Nov. 1, 2024-Feb. 28, 2025

Hunting

Raccoon, Virginia opossum – Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2024

Hunting and trapping

Badger, mink, long-tailed weasel, raccoon, Virginia opossum, red fox, gray fox – Nov. 1, 2024-Feb. 28, 2025

Bobcat – Dec. 1, 2024-Feb. 28, 2025

Striped skunk – year-round

Coyote – year-round

Motorists should use caution to avoid collisions with deer

Fall is the time of year when deer are more active. Crops are being harvested and deer breeding season is in full swing. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has tips to help drivers avoid deer-vehicle accidents and lessen the risk of injury or vehicle damage.

• During the breeding season, bucks become more active searching for does. Bucks are bolder, less wary and more susceptible to collisions with vehicles. Deer are more active between dusk and dawn, but movement peaks near dawn and dusk.
• The harvesting of crops could push deer out of an area and toward a road or highway.
• Anticipate the possibility of a deer on the road. Prepare to stop suddenly but know braking too sharply or swerving may cause you to lose control and roll your vehicle.
• Wear your seat belt.
• When driving near shelterbelts, woodlots, rivers or creeks, especially during evening or early morning, slow down and watch for deer. Keep your headlights on high beams if there is no approaching traffic.
• When you spot a deer, assume there will be others in the same area.
• Deer often appear to be disoriented or confused by headlights. Some react by freezing in the light, some dart into the path of the vehicle and others bolt away. Honk your horn and flash your high beams to frighten deer away. If there is other traffic on the road, activate your emergency flashers and tap your brakes to alert other drivers to the potential danger.
• Many places where deer-vehicle collisions occur are posted with “deer crossing” signs. Pay attention in these areas.
• The driver may take possession of deer struck, they must contact the Game and Parks within 24 hours and have 48 hours to receive a salvage tag from a conservation officer or designee. To see a list of conservation officers, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search “Officers.”
• Regardless, call a law enforcement officer if you strike a deer as the animal could pose a potential hazard to other drivers. Move your vehicle to the side of the road, if possible, and turn on your hazard lights.

It pays to be vigilant behind the wheel. According to a recent State Farm report, more than 1.8 million auto insurance claims involving animal collisions were filed across the nation from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, with deer being the animal most often struck. The report also says U.S. drivers, on average, have a 1 in 128 chance of colliding with an animal. In Nebraska, the odds are 1 in 140.