The Game and Parks Commission approved a five-year plan to recruit, retain and reactivate outdoor enthusiasts at its Oct. 21 meeting in Broken Bow.
This 2023-2027 Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Plan provides goals, objectives and strategies to help Game and Parks engage outdoor participants in outdoor opportunities.
The plan is focused on boating, fishing, hunting, parks, and shooting sports, as well as on maintaining widespread support for conservation and recreation.
At the meeting in the Broken Bow Public Library, commissioners also approved changes to wildlife regulations that added the Pine Ridge Mule Deer Conservation Area to the list of draw units, added nonresident antelope archery permit to the list of antelope draw permits, and allowed nonresident archery antelope hunters to either apply for a preference point or the archery permit;
Added turkeys to the list of animals that must be checked within 48 hours of being harvested; and added language to allow hunters, beginning with the 2023 spring season, to cancel and check their electronic turkey permits on their mobile devices immediately after harvest.
Commissioners approved a change to fisheries regulations to simplify the application process for Special Fishing Permits for disabled anglers and allow annual renewals to be purchased through the online permit system.
Commissioners also approved changes to assorted boating regulations regarding references to personal floatation devices, vessel weight limits, and updating lists of water bodies for wake/no wake rules and boating hours, towing and other boating safety restrictions.