Commissioners to consider bighorn sheep season

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for a 2025 bighorn sheep hunting season at its Aug. 16 meeting at Fort Robinson State Park.

The meeting begins at 8 a.m. Mountain Time at the park’s Buffalo Soldiers Barracks, 3200 U.S. 20, Crawford.

Staff will recommend authorizing one lottery and one auction permit for the bighorn season, which, if approved, would be Dec. 2-22, 2025.

The commissioners also will consider changing park regulations that would:

• allow snowmobiles to be operated during specific hours on the frozen surfaces of all state park area lakes unless otherwise posted, eliminating a list of specific lakes.
• allow all-terrain and motorized off-highway amphibious vehicles to be operated during specific hours on frozen surfaces unless otherwise posted, eliminating a list of specific lakes.

In other business, the commissioners will consider staff recommendations to approve:

• Game and Parks’ Chronic Wasting Disease Plan;
• application for 2024 Recreational Trails Program funding to enhance sandhill crane viewing areas, bridge decking, and interpretive signage on the pedestrian bridge and nearby trail at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area;
• the proposed budget request for Fiscal Year 2026 and Fiscal Year 2027 Biennium; and
• an easement request from the City of Fort Calhoun to build a cement hike-bike trail at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park.

Commissioners also will hear updates on the Law Enforcement Division, spring turkey season, and an overview of the Fort Robinson Angler Access Projects.

The drawing for the 2024 bighorn sheep lottery permit also will take place.

To view a complete agenda, visit OutdoorNebraska.gov and search for “public notices.” To view proposed changes to Commission regulations and orders, search for “regulations.”