Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community
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As hunters plan their spring wild turkey hunt, safety reminders need to be included to ensure a fun outing. Kyle Gaston, hunter education coordinator with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, reminds hunters to practice the four basic rules of firearm safety. “With the excitement of a new season beginning, never let your emotions distract you and get in the way of a safe hunt this spring,” Gaston said. The four basic rules of firearm safety are: Treat every firearm as if it is loaded; Always point the muzzle of your firearm in a safe dir...
Visitors to state park areas in northeastern Nebraska will find enhanced day-use and camping amenities. Projects in the works or completed will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Ponca State Park – Electrical pedestals were installed at Ponca State Park's Eric Wiebe Shooting Complex for use by vendors during the annual Missouri River Outdoor Expo. This $20,000 project was paid for with Land and Water Conservation Funds. Niobrara SP ...
Governor Jim Pillen and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture are partnering to provide Nebraskans with information about the appearance of avian influenza in wild birds this time of year. On March 21, the Douglas County Health Department reported the detection of H5N1 in dead geese at ConAgra Lake in Omaha. “Nebraska is situated in the heart of the migratory bird path, especially waterfowl. It’s well known that wild waterfowl can be infected with avian influenza and transmit the virus to other birds, including backyard and commercial pou...
Anglers and biologists again are joining forces to bring a new kind of fishing tournament to Nebraska. The second year of the Midwest Walleye Challenge will give anglers in states across the Midwest a chance to compete for prizes while collecting important data for biologists. The collection of angler catch data during the Nebraska challenge, which runs April 1 to June 29, can help the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission learn more about Nebraska walleye fisheries. In the process, Nebraska...
The Nebraska Economic Forecasting Advisory Board met on Feb. 28 and voted to increase revenue projections for the upcoming 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 fiscal years. The board forecasted, in October of last year, that the state was facing a budget shortfall of $432 million. With the latest forecast, Nebraska is projected to receive up to $165 million in potential new revenue, reducing the state’s budget shortfall to about $198 million. Revenue projections for the current fiscal year were raised b...
Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in a virtual discussion on fisheries management during meetings March 24-26. These six public informational sessions – one for each of the five Game and Parks Fisheries district plus a statewide, aquatic habitat plan focused session – will provide updates for the respective areas. The informal, interactive gatherings will provide a chance for questions, dialogue and feedback. The virtual meetings will take place on Zoom. Participants will be encouraged...
This week, I would like to discuss two bills I presented at public hearings. In the Natural Resources Committee, I brought forward LB480, a bill which would provide the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission the authority to carry out other projects at Niobrara State Park and Lake McConaughy other than the ones studied by the STAR WARS Special Committee and authorized by the Legislature in 2022. The current law only allows money in the Water Recreation Enhancement Fund to be spent on marina...
Controlled burns to remove tree and brush piles will end as the snow melts. Prescribed burns then will begin this spring on some Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife management areas, state parks and state recreation areas where weather allows. Burning allows habitat managers to positively affect more acres. Those burns not completed this spring will be attempted this summer, fall or winter as weather allows. Burned acres often become more attractive to wildlife species, and for some...
Chronic wasting disease surveillance conducted in eastern Nebraska during the November firearm deer season detected 60 positive cases in deer. More than 1,400 samples were collected from harvested deer at check stations in the Missouri, Elkhorn, Loup East, Wahoo, Blue Northwest and Blue Southeast deer management units. CWD was detected for the first time in Antelope, Madison, Butler, York, Seward, Jefferson, Richardson, Merrick, Greeley and Platte counties. To view 2024 CWD results, identified...
Deer season in Nebraska officially closed Jan. 15 when the late antlerless seasons ended. The river antlerless season was shortened due to reduced deer numbers across much of the state. That season now aligns with the rest of the antlerless seasons, and all of them closed Jan. 15. Final deer harvest results will be available late next month at OutdoorNebraska.gov; search “wildlife surveys.” Hunters interested in learning more about the 2024 season, big game research and management will be able to view a recording of the online big game inf...
Applications for multispecies super tag and combo lottery permits will be accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission beginning Jan. 2. 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. Individuals may apply for the...
Nebraska anglers should be aware of fishing regulation changes that take effect Jan. 1, 2025. The changes to fishing rules, approved by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission during meetings in 2024, are: • Black Bass (largemouth, smallmouth and spotted) – At Frye Lake Wildlife Management Area, there will be no minimum length limit with no more than one fish 18 inches or longer allowed in the five-fish daily bag limit. At Prairie View Lake, Wagon Train State Recreation Area/WMA, Duck Creek Recreation Area and Prairie Queen Recreation Area, the...
We've all had our fill of political news. So I thought that this week, we'd delve into a topic that's equally as timely – pheasant hunting. I've spent a fair amount of time in pursuit of the ring-necked bird, and recently traveled to South Dakota – the self-proclaimed "Pheasant Capital of the World" – to try my luck with my trusty Vizsla, "Gunnar," and a couple of buddies. If you've ever traveled to our northern neighbor this time of year, you'll see dozens upon dozens of guys (and a few gals)...
Preliminary results from the 2024 Nebraska November firearm deer season show statewide harvest was down 2% from 2023 and down 24% from the 2019-2023 average. This was more successful than expected for the Nov. 16-24 season as November firearm permit quotas were reduced 13% from 2023 in response to declining deer populations. Mule deer buck harvest increased 9% from 2023, while whitetail buck harvest fell 2%. Antlerless mule deer harvest declined 10% from 2023, while antlerless whitetail increased 2%. All harvest levels are down significantly...
People are encouraged to use caution as avian influenza is affecting waterfowl and other bird species throughout Nebraska and adjacent states. Nebraska Game and Parks officials said waterfowl die-offs and sick birds have been reported at water bodies from Niobrara to Alma recently. About 300 dead or dying snow geese have been collected at Harlan County Reservoir and additional ones at locations in northeast and southeast Nebraska. Highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu, has been confirmed in two cases. Due to the widespread nature of...
A field investigator with Nebraska Game and Parks Commission may soon open shop in the Holt County Courthouse. During the Nov. 27 Holt County supervisors meeting, John Bauer with NGPC requested to use office space, if available. "I need room for a desk, chair and a couple filing cabinets," Bauer said. Supervisor Dustin Breiner asked how soon space would be needed. Bauer replied there's "no rush." Chairman Bill Tielke said once the St. Mary's third-grade students move back to the school, an...
Three taxidermied penguins preside over Room 426 in Allwine Hall, standing atop a row of metal cabinets in the back corner. The Antarctic birds are locked in an everlasting staring contest with a stuffed hornbill whose craned neck protrudes from a bookcase holding a row of primate skulls. To the students who file into professor James Wilson's mammalogy class, these are ordinary sights. What grabs their attention on this Monday afternoon are the short stacks of paper spread neatly across the... Full story
As cold weather approaches and Nebraskans remove watercraft, docks and other boating equipment from the water, Nebraska Game and Parks encourages boat owners to check equipment for zebra mussels. Zebra mussels are highly invasive, and when introduced into a water body, can cause millions of dollars in damage to infrastructure and catastrophically effect ecosystems and agricultural areas. “Many boaters already are on the lookout for zebra mussels, but it’s important that every Nebraskan check their equipment for attached mussels so we’re infor...
Installation of a new floating fishing pier recently was completed at Grove Lake Wildlife Management Area in Antelope County. The 60-foot gangway and 10-foot by 20-foot floating platform, with benches and rod holders, was installed on the west shoreline of the lake north of Royal. This project was initiated to provide more bank fishing opportunity at the 50-acre lake. Installation of the floating fishing pier was the final step of the multifaceted boating and fishing access improvement project....
Wheat and milo stubble left tall following harvest provides excellent cover and hunting opportunities for pheasants and other wildlife. The 2024-2025 Stubble Access Guide displays these and other adjacent habitats open to public, walk-in hunting across portions of western Nebraska. Through the Open Fields and Waters program, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission works with landowners to increase public hunting, trapping and/or fishing access on private lands. Tall wheat and milo stubble fields are enrolled in Open Fields and Waters following...
Starting this fall, hunters have the option to electronically report their November firearm deer season harvest or take their deer to a check station. While checking in deer is mandatory, hunters may choose to check in their deer at a check station or through Telecheck for the first time this nine-day firearm season. In the past, hunters were required to take their harvest to a physical check station during the firearm season while deer harvests during the remainder of the year were reported...
A combination firearm and bowhunter education course will be offered by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission volunteer instructors in Orchard on Oct. 28 and 29 and Nov. 2. Class times will be 5:30 to 9 p.m., on the 28th and 29th and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 2. This free course will be held at the Orchard Community Center at 407 E. 4th Street in Orchard. The course will provide instruction in safe firearms use, safe bow use, tree stand safety, shooting and sighting techniques, hunter ethics,...
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is giving its wildlife-viewing guides a makeover – with the help of the public. These Watchable Wildlife Guides are educational resources designed to help people identify, observe and appreciate wildlife in their natural habitats. They provide species descriptions, viewing tips and conservation information, promoting responsible wildlife watching. Their purpose is to foster a deeper connection with nature and encourage environmental stewardship. The public...
As waterfowl season kicks off, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters to help prevent the spread of damaging aquatic invasive species. Zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, brittle naiad and other aquatic invasive species can “hitchhike” on hunting gear and be spread by droplets of water or even tiny plant fragments. Aquatic invasive species cause irreparable harm to aquatic ecosystems and waterfowl habitat, severely impeding hunting, fishing and boating for future generations. Nebraska is one of the few...
Water levels at Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area will remain low for the next few weeks so the Twin Loups Irrigation District can conduct crucial repair work to the soil cement on Virginia Smith Dam. Access to some boat ramps is affected. The ramps at Homestead Knolls and Nunda Shoals are open. However, large boats will have difficulty launching at Nunda Shoals because of shallow water. Ramps at Buckshot Bay and Valley View Flat are closed. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission appreciates the patience of its park guests and is...
