Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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Nebraska anglers, fisheries managers want your help. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln School of Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is conducting creel surveys to better understand the relationship between the angling community and fisheries. These angler surveys will be conducted at Davis Creek Reservoir, Calamus Reservoir, Sutherland Reservoir, Lake Ogallala, and Prairie Queen Reservoir from April through October, and at Prairie View Lake and...
Turkey hunters will take to the woods for Nebraska's spring shotgun season April 18. They can expect a season consistent with the past five years, according to Carlie Gizel, wild turkey program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Statewide spring population indices indicated an 18% increase from 2024 to 2025. Regionally, the average number of turkeys observed increased from 2024 in all regions except the Sandhills and Northeast. Gizel said that while overall turkey numbers are...
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications for one 2026 bighorn sheep regular lottery permit beginning April 20. A $34 nonrefundable application fee must accompany each application. Only Nebraska residents 12 years and older are eligible for the lottery. It is unlawful to submit more than one application in a calendar year for a regular lottery permit. Residents may receive only one permit in a lifetime. The permit is not transferable. The application period begins at 1 p.m. Central time April 20 and ends Aug. 7....
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman, a program that empowers women with the knowledge of outdoor skills, will host Ladies Day on the Range on April 25 at five locations across Nebraska. Ponca State Park, in northeast Nebraska, will host an event from 9 to 11 a.m., which will include archery, pellet gun and shotgun training. Ladies Day on the Range event isn't just about hitting targets; it's about equipping women with knowledge and skills to feel confident and secure operating a firearm or archery...
Support conservation education with a new limited-edition ice cream created by (402) Creamery in collaboration with Nebraska Game and Parks. Since March 23, the Lincoln-based ice cream shop has been offering Fox Tracks, a custom pint inspired by Nebraska's clever red fox, with $2 from every pint sold benefiting conservation education programs across the state. Fox Tracks is a gluten-free butter pecan ice cream with maple-frosted corn cookies and rich caramel swirls. The pint will be available...
Walleye anglers have a new way to compete, connect and contribute to fisheries science and management across the Midwest. The third year of the Midwest Walleye Challenge introduces County Captains and Weekly Challenges - features designed to spark friendly rivalry, boost participation and strengthen local pride across participating states. The Nebraska Walleye Challenge is a citizen science fishing event that brings anglers and biologists together to support walleye fisheries. Open to anglers of...
Russ Befort now has completed the Nebraska Upland Slam four times in four seasons. The 43-year-old from Shawnee, Kansas, knows he couldn’t have done it alone. He credits his dog, Otis, for playing a “critical” role. While hunting the greater prairie-chicken and sharp-tailed grouse, after walking several miles, Befort was presented just one shot on each bird. Otis, a Kliene Munsterlander, was able to retrieve each downed bird. Befort was randomly drawn as the grand prize winner in the eighth year of the Upland Slam, winning a Winchester SX4 U...
Spring stockings of rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across Nebraska are beginning. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fish hatcheries staff are releasing 12-inch trout to enhance fishing opportunities this spring and jump-start the open water fishing season. “This popular program emphasizes our urban and community waters statewide,” said Daryl Bauer, Game and Parks’ fisheries outreach program manager. “We encourage anglers to get out and enjoy the weather and harvest a few trout.” Those just getting into fishing, are encouraged to read Game...
Applications for multispecies Super Tag and Combo lottery permits will be accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission beginning Jan. 2, 2026. The Super Tag lottery permit will be valid for one elk of either sex, one antelope of either sex, one deer of either sex and two turkeys (only toms and bearded hens may be taken in the spring). One permit will be authorized for Nebraska residents only, and one permit will be authorized for residents/nonresidents. People may apply for the...
Start the new year by getting outdoors and participating in First Day Hikes at Nebraska's state parks Jan. 1. These annual guided hikes give you the chance to explore trails, snap photos, watch wildlife and participate in any planned activities. Or, choose any state park and create your own hiking adventure. Activities include a potluck soup luncheon at Ash Hollow State Historical Park, a guided tour at Fort Hartsuff SHP, winter art activities at Schramm Park State Recreation Area, and tours of...
Paddlefish snagging season on the Missouri River opens Oct. 1, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has several reminders for anglers hoping to fill a tag. During the season, which runs through Oct. 31, anglers may snag paddlefish and nongame fish from Gavins Point Dam downstream to the mouth of the Big Sioux River at mile marker 734. Legal fishing hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. More about the season: Closed Areas – Snagging is not allowed off the north wall and in the area immediately below Gavins Point Dam powerhouse discharge canal. All i...
The public is invited to participate in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's annual summer turkey brood survey July 1 toAug. 31. The survey provides useful estimates about annual production by wild turkey hens and how many poults, or young turkeys, survive the summer brood-rearing period. These records and observations inform management decisions regarding wild turkeys, their population size and habitat needs. During July and August, survey participants are asked to record all turkeys they...
By: Rich Wehmeyer Old Wolf Oak at Ponca State Park, one of Nebraska’s oldest trees, has died. It was a bur oak living more than 380 years and had become an often-visited woodland destination for park visitors. But it’s not the only oak to die this year from stresses of natural causes. Large areas of dead or declining mature trees at state parks are evident along Nebraska’s eastern edge. While trees are resilient and rarely succumb to a single stressor, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and its partners identified multiple ones leading to m...
