Firearm deer season to open Saturday with good forecasts

    Hunter orange will be a popular color across Nebraska Saturday with the start of the firearm deer season.
    Nebraska Game and Parks is predicting it to be a lucrative season because of high mule and whitetail deer populations.
    Game and Parks’ officer John Lee, who covers Chase County, expects it to be extremely busy.
    More bucks are expected to be taken this year compared to last season which produced the highest harvest recorded. Over 9,200 deer were taken in 2016. Fewer doe tags were issued this year.
    “Hunting prospects have improved in all management units as herds are mostly recovered from the drought and disease losses of 2012,” says Kit Hams, big game program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
    “Mule deer in five southern units are doing very well and whitetails are increasing in several units,” he said.
    Lee concurred, “Deer numbers are very good for both mule and whitetail deer.”
    Lee went on to remind hunters to be conscious of safety, especially to wear hunter orange. Getting permission from landowners was also highlighted by Lee.
    Firearm season will run until Nov. 19.
    Archery season opened Sept. 1 and will wrap up Dec. 31.
    Muzzleloader season runs throughout December. The antlerless firearm season runs for two weeks, Jan. 1-15.
    Several area check stations include Wauneta Crossroads; Laker’s, Enders; C Clear, Benkelman; Tin Cup Restaurant, Venango; the Red Willow and Hitchcock County Sheriffs’ Offices, Trenton; Bulls Bar and Grill, Hayes Center; and Mac’s Super Foods, Wallace.

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