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Nebraska February Outdoor Outlook
#1
Hunting and Trapping

Big game seasons are closed, but sportsmen still have winter hunting opportunities in Nebraska. Squirrel, pheasant, quail and partridge seasons ended Jan. 31, but cottontail and jackrabbit seasons are open through Feb. 29.

The following furbearer seasons are open: hunting and trapping bobcat, raccoon, Virginia opossum, long-tailed weasel, mink, red fox, gray fox, and badger through Feb. 29; trapping muskrat and beaver through March 31; and hunting and trapping striped skunk is open year-round.

Light geese may be hunted statewide through Feb. 6 and Canada and brant geese may be hunted through Feb. 6 in the Platte River, Niobrara, and Panhandle units. The statewide light goose conservation action begins Feb. 7.

Crow season is open statewide through April 6.

Coyote, a nongame specie, may be hunted or trapped statewide year-round. Nebraska residents do not need a hunting permit or habitat stamp to take them. Coyotes are abundant in the Panhandle and the snow and cold temperatures will provide good opportunity to take them.

The north-central region has seen trapping pressure drop off in January, but some bobcat hunters nd trappers are catching good numbers of cats. January was a good month for rabbit hunting and success should continue into February with the additional snow cover. All wildlife management areas and CRP lands hold good numbers of rabbits. Try hunting bushes and weed lots.

Goose hunting has been slow in the northeast region, but it should pick up whenever snow and ice begin to melt in fields.

Fishing

In the Panhandle, fish Box Butte Reservoir for bluegill, using tip-ups with wax\ worm teardrops, and northern pike. Smith Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is a good spot for bluegill, largemouth bass, and northern pike. Fish for rainbow trout, largemouth bass and crappie at Fort Robinson State Park's (SP) Carter P. Johnson Lake.

North-central anglers will find nine lakes on the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge open to fishing, with about nine inches of ice. Some good catches of northern pike and nice bluegill were taken on Pelican Lake. Hackberry Lake was renovated and restocked in 2004 and some fish have reached the size that anglers prefer.

There are stocked rainbow trout for south-central anglers at Such's Lake in Grand Island, Holdrege City Lake, Windmill State Recreation Area (SRA) Lake No. 1 and Lexington City Lake. Fish for walleye, sauger and white bass at the Johnson Lake inlet and try for crappie and walleye at Sherman Reservoir. Bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish and crappie are the likely catches at the Interstate 80 lakes, as well as city lakes in Ansley, Bethphage, Kearney (Cottonmill and Yanney lakes), Ravenna and Sutton.

In the southwest, fish for perch in Lake Ogallala, crappie in Red Willow Reservoir, bluegill and crappie in Wellfleet Lake, and crappie, rainbow trout and perch in Rock Creek Lake. Stocked trout are in Birdwood and Arnold lakes, as well as Bennett Pond in McCook.

Anglers in the northeast will find a fair number of bluegill and crappie at Maskenthine Lake, while Buckskin Hills Lake should provide crappie and bluegill, and Willow Creek should have good numbers of walleye. Try Goose Lake for perch, northern pike and bluegill, and Grove Lake for northern pike. Pawnee Park in Columbus, Fremont SRA Lake No. 5, Crystal Cove Park in South Sioux City and Ta Ha Zouka Park in Norfolk have stocked trout.

Ice conditions in southeast Nebraska are good, but anglers still must be careful, especially when the ice is covered with snow. Anglers pursuing bluegill should tip their teardrops with a wax worms and fish Olive Creek, Memphis, Burchard, Redtail, Walnut Creek, Mayberry and Holmes Lake. Try fishing for crappie with a minnow at Stagecoach, Czechland, Zorinsky and Walnut Creek. Rainbow trout are stocked at Eugene T. Mahoney SP's Qwest Lake, Holmes Lake, Standing Bear Lake, Weeping Water Pond, Steinhart Park Ponds in Nebraska City, Auburn, and Lake Halleck in Papillion. PowerBait or corn should be the best bets for trout. Anglers also should try fishing both on the bottom with a small split shot and also in mid-water with a bobber.

Wildlife Viewing

When it comes to wildlife viewing, February in Nebraska means sandhill cranes. They begin to arrive on the central Platte River during their migration in the early part of the month. The migration through Nebraska peaks in the third week of March. The heaviest concentration of cranes, and possibly some whoopers, congregates between Grand Island and Kearney.

For more information on sandhill cranes and the migration, click here.

Birders also can enjoy February for viewing bald eagles and winter songbirds. More than a thousand eagles typically winter in Nebraska along rivers, reservoirs and lakes that contain some open water.

While you're enjoying the outdoors or looking for the shed antlers of deer, look for turkeys so you can line up your hunting areas for the spring hunting season.

In the Panhandle, take a drive through Cedar Canyon WMA or Fort Robinson SP to see bighorn sheep and other wildlife.

Parks

Take a break from the workweek and head to a state park or state recreation area for some fun outdoor activities and a healthy dose of fresh air. Take a hike in the woods, go sledding or ice skating, or enjoy snowmobile or cross-country ski trails. A park entry permit is required at all state park areas. To purchase permits or get more information, visit www.OutdoorNebraska.org.

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