Partners support hunting access and rural economies in western Nebraska
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are excited to introduce a new initiative focused on increased public access in The Cornhusker State. Supported by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, onX Hunt, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and local chapters, the Nebraska Community Access Partnership (NCAP) has enrolled 44,000 in its inaugural year supporting quality wildlife habitat, rural economies, and an abundance of publicly accessible lands in western Nebraska.
“We’re excited to bring this opportunity to local communities like Ogallala and Paxton. The economic impact of the outdoor industry is critical for rural communities and these area businesses have great amenities to offer,” said Kelsi Wehrman, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Nebraska state coordinator. “The Western Nebraska Ringnecks chapter of Pheasants Forever, as well as private landowners, have done a fantastic job of supporting this effort. We’re thrilled with the early acreage results and hope to continue building access throughout the region.”
The NCAP program provides a financial incentive for ranchers, farmers and landowners to enroll high-quality CRP, rangeland and ungrazed grasslands voluntarily into a 5-year walk-in hunting agreement through the Nebraska Open Fields and Waters Program (OFW). Landowners willing to allow walk-in hunting access can receive a one-time sign-up incentive of $25 per acre for quality CRP or $10 per acre for working rangeland or grasslands. This is in addition to OFW annual payments which range from $.50/ac-$15/ac depending on habitat quality.
The focus of this new initiative is within 60 miles of Ogallala and offers the NCAP incentives within the focal area of Keith, Garden, Deuel and Arthur counties with secondary focus in Perkins, Lincoln, Cheyenne, Morrill and Kimball County. Since rolling out the program in April 2024, NCAP has enrolled over 44,000 acres of CRP and rangeland, including a single contract for more than 25,000 acres of walk-in access.
To kickoff the NCAP initiative, Nebraska is offering a rooster tailfeather competition for the longest tailfeather award. Participants can find Pheasants Forever yardsticks at participating locations in Ogallala. Participants must submit photos of their tailfeather with the public access sign and yardstick through January 31st to be entered into a drawing. Visit the website for more information.
NCAP is part of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s overarching Public Access to Habitat program. Enrolled acres also contribute to the organization’s 2024-2026 Strategic Plan with the goal of expanding public access to privately-owned wildlife habitat on 1.4 million acres.
For more information about NCAP, please contact Addie Piernicky, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Ogallala coordinating wildlife biologist at (308) 737-0944 or [email protected].
About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever make up the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. This community of more than 477,000 members, supporters and partners is dedicated to the protection of our uplands through habitat improvement, public access, education and advocacy. A network of 754 local chapters spread across North America determine how 100 percent of their locally raised funds are spent — the only national conservation organization that operates through this grassroots structure. Since its creation in 1982, the organization has dedicated more than $1 billion to 580,000 habitat projects benefiting 28.8 million acres.
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