Dirk Hood

Our mission is stewardship of the state’s fish, wildlife, park, and outdoor recreation resources in the best long-term interests of the people and those resources, and our vision is to provide access to healthy land, waters and wildlife that inspire people for generations to come. To do that, we tap into our core values: • Integrity — We believe in operating openly and holding ourselves to the highest ethical standards. • Accountability — We believe that we are responsible to current and future generations for the resources we protect and conserve. • Balance — We believe in earnestly considering the needs and perspectives of the people we serve and the resources we protect and conserve. • Stewardship — We believe in responsibly managing the resources entrusted to our care. Our agency is dedicated to conserving Nebraska’s natural resources, state parks and wildlife, and providing recreational opportunities to all — because the outdoors is for everyone. We develop programs and resources relevant to all constituents and foster a workforce that is welcoming and inclusive for all. We know diversity is critical to the resiliency and strength of our native ecosystems but also to our mission and success. We were established by the Legislature in 1901 and are overseen by a board of nine commissioners. Among the many duties of the Commission and staff are: • establishing hunting seasons and regulations for game species; • managing Nebraska’s state parks, state recreation areas and other public lands; • managing the fisheries at numerous public lakes across the state; • helping landowners establish good conservation practices on their land; • working to conserve Nebraska’s threatened and endangered species; • and providing resources for those who wish to learn to enjoy the outdoors. We are committed to the idea that time spent outdoors — whether hunting, fishing, hiking, biking, birdwatching, canoeing, camping, or something else — is time well spent.