Deer check-in online only; season opens Saturday

    Whether a first time hunter or experienced vet, this year’s deer season Nov. 14-22 will possibly bring something new to the experience.
    Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has announced all deer check-ins will be done online this year through Telecheck.
    The NGPC decision was made to avoid close contact between check station workers and hunters during the eight day firearm deer season in an effort to protect public health.
    Past area check-in stations Lakers Bait and Tackle in Enders and Wauneta Crossroads are still encouraging hunters to stop in.
    Crossroads will once more do its Big Buck Contest on Facebook.
    It will also be holding a rifle and handgun raffle with the proceeds going toward a lifetime hunting permit for a youth Hunters Safety participant.
    Angie West said, although her employees won’t be as engaged checking in deer, she expects  good group of hunters to stop in with their trophies.
    Lakers invited hunters to stop in and will still be taking pictures of deer during regular business hours.
    NGPC Conservation Officer John Lee said deer numbers are looking good, and added that crops are out the earliest he’s seen during his five years in the Frenchman Unit, leaving fewer places for deer to hide.
Must check in within 48 hours
    One major change from years past is that hunters must complete the Telecheck process within 48 hours of their deer harvest and no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season.
    “Safety is number one whether in the field or checking in deer,” Lee said.
    Game and Parks amended its wildlife regulations in August to allow its director, in the interest of public health, to determine that physical check stations are not prudent during the November firearm deer season, and allow deer to be checked via internet or telephone.
    To use online Telecheck, hunters should record their harvest at apps.outdoorne braska.gov/BgHarvest.
    They also may complete Telecheck by calling 844-279-4564, available 24 hours a day.
    Hunters are required to log:
    • Species of the animal;
    • Their permit number and name confirmation;
    • County where harvest was made;
    • Whether the deer was harvested on private, public or Open Fields and Waters Program land and the name of the area if on public;
    • Management unit;
    • Date of kill;
    • Number of days hunted;
    • Weapon used;
    • Sex of the animal;
    • Whether the animal was an adult or fawn;
    • Whether the antlers, if present, have a spread of more or less than 11 inches between the main beams.
    Once hunters submit their registration, they will be provided with a seal number that must be written on their canceled deer permit. Deer may not leave the state until registered.
    Hunters who have difficulty completing the online registration process may call their local Game and Parks district office or service center between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. during the season.
    The North Platte district office can be reached at 308-535-8025.
    Telecheck has been used to check all deer taken outside the November firearm season for the past 10 years.
    Lee said many other states use Telecheck.
    “It’s a time when we’re all trying to do the best we can,” Lee said.
    He added that if check in goes well this year, hunters may see more Telecheck, but check in stations may return in the future.

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