For 2013, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has been named QDMA's Agency of the Year. QDMA CEO Brian Murphy presented the award, which was accepted by the Commission's Big Game Programs Manager Kit Hams (pictured).

Each year, QDMA works closely with state, federal and provincial agencies to further QDMA's mission of ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. Presented annually since 2003, the Agency of the Year award goes to an agency that has a record of supporting the philosophy of Quality Deer Management (QDM) and the mission of the QDMA.

In 2004, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission set a goal of creating the best possible youth deer season, and since then the number of youth permits has tripled. Notably, these permits are available to resident and nonresident youth and are valid during all deer seasons. Unlike some, this agency welcomes nonresident hunters, and their nonresident permit sales have doubled in the past decade.

Hunter access is extremely important to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission - as evidenced by their funding of private land access programs that have opened 272,000 acres and 42 miles of rivers to public hunting and fishing.

They also have active deer donation programs including an online program that connects hunters wishing to donate a deer to those needing a deer, and another that allows hunters to donate funds to process deer distributed to food banks.