Open Fields, Waters Program seeking more land enrollment

    The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wants to provide additional hunting and fishing opportunities on private lands through its Open Fields and Waters Program.
    Landowners willing to allow public, walk-in access for hunting or fishing can receive annual, per-acre payments through the program.
    Participating landowners are given liability protection through the Nebraska Recreational Liability Act. Additional financial incentives often are available for habitat improvements, such as Conservation Reserve Program enrollment or management upgrades.
    Game and Parks is targeting the following types of enrollments, but all properties offering high-quality hunting or fishing opportunities will be considered:
    Conservation Reserve Program—CRP fields provide excellent hunting opportunities for upland game birds and acres in any part of the state will be considered. Landowners can receive up to $10 per acre for CRP, depending upon location and habitat quality.
    Wetland Reserve Program easements—Landowners who have Wetland Reserve Program easements can earn up to $15 per acre for accessible portions of WRP easements with suitable habitats.
    Grasslands—High-quality grassland habitat that provides mixed-bag hunting opportunities for upland game birds and big game species are being sought statewide. Properties in the Sandhills supporting prairie grouse, mule deer and/or antelope are a priority, along with sites in south-central and southeastern Nebraska that offer quail and/or white-tailed deer hunting opportunities.
    Woodlands—Heavily timbered areas along riparian corridors and those with canyon-like topography are being pursued in many areas. Rates for high-quality woodlands range from $5 to $15 per acre, depending on habitat quality and location.
    Fishing access—Ponds, lakes, warm-water streams or rivers and cool-water streams with trout are potential targets. Payment rates are per surface acre on lakes and ponds and per stream mile on streams or rivers.
    For more information visit OutdoorNebraska.org/OFW.
    Since 2016, more than 138,000 acres have been added to Open Fields and Waters and statewide enrollment is at an all-time high.
    More than 850 private landowners participated in the program in 2020-21, and provided walk-in hunting and fishing opportunities across 372,000-plus land acres, more than 500 acres of ponds and lakes and more than 45 stream miles.