OCTOBER 2016 • NEBRASKALAND 37
Loup, Verona Wetlands Complex near Aurora, Grove Lake
WMA and CRP lands near Royal, and Elk Point Bend WMA
near Ponca. Biologists and habitat managers accompanied the
commissioners on these hunts, and they discussed their work
to increase bird numbers in their specific areas.
The hunters found success at every location. Furthermore,
a recent annual hunter harvest survey confirmed what the
commissioners experienced on their outings – that pheasant
and quail populations are recovering from the harsh drought
of 2012.
"This is an exciting time to be an upland game hunter in
Nebraska," said Karie Decker, the Commission's interim
wildlife division administrator. "To see such large increases
in upland bird harvests shows that our pheasant and quail
populations are rebounding and that hunters are taking
notice."
Good Habitat, More Birds
According to the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission's most recent annual hunter harvest survey,
pheasant harvest increased by 26 percent, from an estimated
PHOTO
BY
JENNY
NGUYEN
