Nebraskaland

16 Nebraskaland • June 2021 IN THE FIELD Elk harvest hit record highs for both bulls and cows in 2020 in Nebraska, and pronghorn harvest was the highest it has been since the 1970s for both bucks and does. Those numbers are expected to increase again this year thanks to a substantial increase in the number of permits authorized by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for both species. The agency will issue 225 bull elk permits, a 53 percent increase from 2020, and 621 cow elk permits, a 75 percent increase. For pronghorn, late-season doe tags will be increased in all but two management units, bringing the total doe permits to 1,140, a 52 percent jump. The increases are in response to concerns raised by landowners in a survey last fall. While the Commission periodically sends scientific surveys to landowners to gauge their thoughts on the deer herd, it was the first time they'd formally asked similar questions to those who have elk and pronghorn on their land. Nearly 1,500 individuals were surveyed regarding elk. Of the 42 percent who responded: 36 percent, most of them in the North Platte River and Niobrara West management units, said they felt they had too many elk; 46 percent, especially among those in the Hat Creek, North Platte River and Niobrara West units, reported moderate to heavy damage to crops, fences and stack yards; and 50 percent said the damage was unacceptable. Luke Meduna, big game program manager with the Commission, said to this point biologists around the state regularly had talked with landowners about elk since the species reestablished itself in the state. While a few had expressed concerns, most had wanted to see more elk, and biologists had been conservative with elk management. "The 'Nebraska nice' thing is real," said Meduna. "For the most part, while elk herds were slowly expanding through the '90s and early 2000's, landowners were quite quiet. Some would mention it, but by and large, most didn't until there were way too many. Most enjoyed seeing 5 or 10 and even 20 By Eric Fowler ELK, PRONGHORN PERMITS UP IN 2021 ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND Deer Permits Increasing Additional deer permits were authorized for 2021, primarily in an eff ort to target whitetail does and control the herd that has recovered from heavy losses to disease during severe drought in 2012. Permit quotas have been increased in fi ve units, and in four more units where permits typically don't sell out, the number of bonus antlerless tags has been increased. The River Antlerless season has also been extended through January. Special permits also have been created for Harlan County Reservoir and the Southwest Reservoirs to allow antlerless harvest on those public lands, something that had been prohibited to prevent overharvest. • 46,275 Firearm Permits, up 2 percent • 32,100 Antlerless Permits, up 6.5 percent • Increased bonus tags in Calamus West, Keya Paha, Plains and Sandhills units • Increased fi rearm permits in Blue Northwest, Blue Southeast, Calamus East, Elkhorn and Wahoo units • Increased Antlerless permits in Blue Northwest, Blue Southeast, Pine Ridge and Wahoo units

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