*Blogger’s Note: Once again I am receiving a lot of requests for corned meat recipes because Saint Patrick’s Day is just around the bend. So, I am bringing back my blog about corning beef and wild game. I hope you find it informative and have the time to try one of these delicious recipes. I raise my glass to you and exclaim: “Sláinte!” (slawn-cha), which is an Irish Gaelic term meaning “health.” Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! GW. Saint Patrick’s Day is …

A wildlife biologist I once knew used tell me that to be an effective shed deer antler hunter, you must know white-tailed deer biology and “think like a buck” during winter and early spring. I get the biology part, but “think like a buck?” Hmmm … Luke Meduna who’s the Big Game Program Manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, responds to that shed antler hunting strategy by saying: “Yes, to be successful, a shed deer antler hunter needs …

We are still in the icy, frigid grips of winter. Ice fishing activity rules the day. However, the length of daylight is increasing. Deer have begun shedding their antlers. Some sandhill cranes have arrived already along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. It is calving season on ranches in the Nebraska Sandhills. These are all indicators that spring is just around the bend. For those of us who spring wild turkey hunt, our thoughts are drifting to the woods where …

From casting a line in a pristine trout stream to a kicking back while camping at a scenic, serene oasis, Nebraska’s state park system, celebrating its 100th anniversary, is an outdoor lover’s dream. There are 76 areas in our park system and they truly offer something for everyone. I know. I have firsthand knowledge of all of them. In my 42 years with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. I have been to EVERY. SINGLE.ONE and even worked in our …

If you’re a deer hunter in Nebraska, you have wrapped up your seasons. Now, the fun begins. It is time to post-season scout for deer. Say what? Post-season scout for deer? So, you’re thinking: Why in the world would a deer hunter scout immediately after a season ends through the winter? After all, the next Nebraska deer hunting season doesn’t open until Sept. 1 (archery), right? Plus, deer will completely re-pattern in spring, summer and fall. Hear me out. I …

There is no other piece of equipment or utensil needed to perform as many tasks, in as many ways, under as many conditions, as the knife, especially in hunting. It can do everything from field dress and skin an animal in the field to cut cord and help spark a fire in a survival situation. A good knife is a quintessential tool for any outdoor enthusiast, but particularly for the hunter. For those of us who hunt, that knife is …

I treasure my time spent alone in nature or in a rural setting, especially this time of year in Nebraska. If I don’t get some alone time in the great outdoors, I end up getting a little restless, grumpy and cabin fever-like (just ask my wife, Polly). Alone time is essential in this pandemic. Sure, it is safer and more fun to share your outdoor adventures with others in your household or “bubble,” but going solo isn’t all bad either. …

If there ever was a time to share your bounty as a hunter, it is now! With the impacts of the coronavirus, folks are hurting. Some have been affected directly by the virus while others have lost jobs or had wages cut because of it. There are people around you that are in need of healthy protein. Enter wild game. YOUR wild game in your freezer, that is. Also, don’t you agree with me that it is the time to …

Foraging for wild foods on a cold, snowy day in Nebraska’s wintry landscape is an interesting and enjoyable outdoor activity. After all, foraging doesn’t have to be a fair-weather activity, right? But, let’s get this straight: Foraging for wild plant foods in winter is not easy. It’s tough, it’s rough, it’s cold, it is hard work. Frigid temperatures, snow cover and low-light add to the difficulty. Winter foraging can sometimes be about slim-pickings, too. However, if you have basic knowledge of specific …

I can hardly wait for sufficient ice for ice fishing to arrive! I sure enjoy ice fishing but admittedly I don’t do much of it. I don’t quite have all the equipment needed for it. Nevertheless, when there’s an invitation to go with seasoned veterans of the ice fishing lifestyle for a day, you can bet that I will jump at the opportunity. Such was the case in January of 2020 when Ty Stromquist of Norfolk, NE and his dad, …