By Derek Beck
OGALLALA, NEB - As Nebraska’s upland hunting season begins, a local conservation partnership is opening more land for public access while boosting the rural economy across western Nebraska.
Addie Piernicky, Coordinating Wildlife Biologist with Pheasants Forever, joined Sandhill Spotlight this week to discuss the Nebraska Community Access Partnership (NCAP) — a collaboration between Pheasants Forever, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, OnX, and the Keith County Chamber of Commerce.
“This program provides a one-time bonus for individuals who enroll land for public hunting access on top of their regular Open Fields and Waters payments,” Piernicky said. “It’s been really exciting — we’ve been able to spend nearly $900,000 on public access in just 18 months.”
The funding, made possible through an $800,000 Nebraska Environmental Trust grant, helps landowners earn additional income while providing hunters more opportunities. Participating landowners can receive $25 per acre for CRP ground and $10 per acre for rangeland as a one-time bonus, along with annual Open Fields and Waters payments that range depending on habitat quality.
For some property owners, Piernicky said, the payments can make a real difference.
“In some cases, it might even cover your property taxes,” she said. “If there’s a section of land you’re not using but has good habitat, it can be a great revenue source.”
Currently, the program is focused in Keith, Garden, Deuel, and Arthur Counties, with secondary areas including Lincoln, Morrill, Perkins, Kimball, and Cheyenne Counties. Piernicky said Pheasants Forever hopes to expand the program farther west after submitting a new grant application earlier this year.
So far in 2025, the group has enrolled 57,000 acres in total, including 14,000 acres added this year — about half of which are new to public access.
To address landowner concerns, Piernicky emphasized that participants are protected by the Nebraska Recreational Liability Act, which shields them from liability for injuries to hunters using the land.
“There’s no liability,” she said. “People are only allowed to walk. No driving, no camping, no target shooting — it’s all low-impact recreation.”
Hunters can find access areas in the Nebraska Public Access Atlas, available at gas stations, Walmart's, and online through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The digital atlas is updated more frequently than the print version and includes properties added throughout the year.
For a little extra fun this season, Pheasants Forever is once again hosting its Longest Tail Feather Competition, where hunters who harvest a rooster on public access can measure their bird’s tail feather at a participating business and submit entries online.
“Last year, the winning tail feather was 33¼ inches,” Piernicky said with a laugh. “It was wild — one of those rare, record-breaking birds.”
Entries can be submitted at NebraskaPF.com/Nebraska-Hunting, and prizes include a dog kennel and Sheels gift cards.
Piernicky encouraged both hunters and landowners to get involved in the spirit of conservation and community.
“Hunting provides not just recreation but real economic impact,” she said. “We’re thrilled to see so many people participating, and we’re looking forward to another great season.”