Nebraska Game and Parks is providing its first special youth hunting opportunity the weekend of October 22nd and 23rd at five state wildlife management areas:  Branched Oak WMA (northwest of Lincoln), Twin Oaks WMA (southeast of Tecumsah), Oak Valley WMA (southwest of Norfolk), Pressey WMA (northwest of Broken Bow), and Sherman WMA (northeast of Loup City).

Youth hunting season is open statewide that weekend, but these five wildlife management have been stocked with birds in order to increase the odds of hunter success.  According to the Nebraska Game and Parks press release, “Pheasant chicks were released in early August at all designated special hunt sites and several hundred more adult rooster pheasants will be released there before the youth season opens.”  Success for the young hunter is vital to getting them exciting about hunting as a sport and the reason for this special opportunity.

Success!

Youths are required to be under the age of 15, but do not need to have a special permit or register for the event.  They are allowed to harvest two roosters per day during the special season.  Each youth hunter is granted one adult mentor hunter, who must be over the age of 19 and hold a valid Nebraska small game hunting license and habitat stamp.  Hunting mentors are allowed to harvest one rooster pheasant per day only on the five designated areas, not statewide.  There is not a limit to the number of non-hunting mentors per youth hunter.

The main parking lots of all of these areas will have postings of aerial photographs showing the location boundaries and the pheasant release zones.  In order to provide logistical support and assistance to mentors, Nebraska Game and Parks staff will be on hand at all five areas during hunting hours (30 minutes before sunrise to sunset).  They are not present as hunting guides, so mentors need to be prepared to assist the youths with walking the areas, safe firearms handling and the retrieval of any downed birds.

Following your youth/mentor hunt at the five designated wildlife management areas, please report back in with the Nebraska Game and Parks staff at the site, as they would like to survey participants for harvest information and event satisfaction to determine the continuation of the program.

In advance of the hunt, general questions that are not specific to the WMA can be directed at Jeff Lusk, NGPC upland program manager at 402-471-1765.

Versatile Hunter’s focus will be on Branched Oak and Twin Oaks WMAs, which are both within an hour to an hour and a half drive of Omaha, where the most youths need hunting access.

Directions to Branched Oak WMA from the Omaha Metro:

I-80 West to Lincoln 9th St./Downtown/Hwy 34 exit, turning north on to Hwy 34

Drive 5 miles on Hwy 34, turn north onto Hwy 79 towards Raymond

Drive northbound 6 miles on Hwy 79 to West Branched Oak Rd., turn left

Drive west on W Branched Oak Rd. for 2 1/2 miles, then turn north on NW 91st St.

NGPC staff will be located in the two parking lots off of NW 91st St. for further directions

Branched Oak WMA surrounds the large lake northwest of Lincoln

Directions to Twin Oaks WMA from the Omaha metro area:

I-80 West to the Hwy 50/Springfield exit (Sapp Bros)

To South on Hwy 50 for about 60 miles, to Tecumsah, NE

In Tecumsah, take Hwy 136 East either 2 miles to 623 Ave or 3 miles to 624 ave, turn south on either road.  Go either 2 miles south on 623 Ave. or 4 miles south on 624 Ave.

NGPC will staff two parking lots: one near 623rd Ave. and 726th Rd. and the second near 624th Ave. and 724 Rd.

Twin Oaks WMA is the green in the top left corner of the map. The town of Tecumsah is top left corner.

Additional questions regarding Branched Oak WMA can be phoned directly into their office at 402-783-3404 and Twin Oak WMA is at 402-370-3374.