You are a hunter. You are a Nebraska hunter. Your thoughts are now drifting toward cool, crisp mornings, falling leaves and maybe a bit of snow cover on the ground. You can picture yourself throwing out teal duck decoys on warm, early September morning in your favorite wetland. You have been spending some time on the target range practicing with your firearm or bow. You have been down the aisles at nearby sporting goods stores perusing the latest hunting clothing and equipment. But even with some tasks done, there’s more to do in the domain of hunting …

It is a season that opens at 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, August 15th. It is an unusual season, but one that just reeks of adventure, challenge and tremendous entertainment value. And, trust me, this is season that will create memories and stories like no other! No, it is not a hunting season. IT is Nebraska’s bullfrog season. Look at the size of this adult North American Bullfrog being held by your blogger. Photo by Jo Momsen/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Bullfrog season. Really? Yep. I know what you’re thinking …

It’s a sport. It’s a hobby. It’s a profession. It’s a pastime. It’s a lifestyle. Fishing. The image of a parent and child on a fishing trip is one that’s historically iconic in our country. For those of us who are of the “baby boomer” generation, think back to the classic sitcom likenesses of The Andy Griffith Show with Andy and Opie sharing a heart-to-heart when wetting lines. This scenario cements the American idea of fishing as a parent-child bonding activity and teaches a great deal of life skills. As a parent, I can tell …

The strong smell of smoke still permeates the air and eventually causes the eyes to water. Soot is on and in everything, even items and  paperwork inside drawers and cabinets. After a while your clothes begin to smell like you built the smokiest campfire ever. A structural fire, or being next to an intense structural fire and dealing with the aftermath of it, is a nasty, dirty thing that takes considerable time to professionally clean and restore. If you have not heard, our/your Nebraska Game and Parks …

Zac Hickle is an avid fisherman. He could take a rod and reel, tackle box and bait, and sit by the river’s edge to try to catch catfish and a variety of other fish. But, he doesn’t do that. Instead, at home he gets his young 6-year old son, Gavin, ready, then hitches up his customized Jon boat loaded with archery fishing gear, life jackets and large tubs, and sets off for the backwaters of mighty Missouri River. You see, Zac Hickle of Elkhorn, NE is a hardcore …

Whether you or your fishing partner have landed the fish of a lifetime, a neat looking fish, a more unique species, or a memorable outing casting a line, here are some great tips for better fish/fishing photography from two professional photographers/outdoor writers at Field & Stream Magazine – T. Edward Nickens and Tim Romano, longtime Missouri River fly fishing guide and outfitter in Montana – Mark Raisler, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Fisheries Biologist – Daryl Bauer, plus yours truly. These easy-to-follow tips should help you better capture that priceless fishing moment with …

The mulberries have been ripe for a couple weeks now. Wild strawberries and raspberries have been picked already. But, soon the bulk of the edible wild fruits and berries in the Nebraska countryside will be ready for harvest. Before you get started in the fun of harvesting wild fruits and berries in Nebraska, here are a some foraging rules, regulations and guidelines that you need to know. Ask the farmer or rancher first! You must acquire permission before gathering wild …

The Nebraska state park system offers some fantastic beaches for swimming and wading. From Big Mac to Branched Oak, more than two dozen state recreation areas offer a chance to catch some rays, play in the sand and cool off in the water of lakes and reservoirs during hot summer days. Beach swimming is blast! My family and I really enjoy it. However, drowning in dark water is a real danger and one of the most horrific things that can happen right in front of loved ones …

Leisurely floating on one of Nebraska’s many scenic rivers or streams in an inflated inner tube is a cool, refreshing, relaxing, way to enjoy a hot summer day with family and friends, isn’t it? Tubers take a break from floating the waters of the Niobrara River east of Valentine, NE. Photo courtesy of Daryl Bauer/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Oh, yes! Summer river tubing is awesome! There is nothing like free-floating a river on an inflated inner tube just about the water level …

You can’t miss them. You really can’t. Around bridges over rivers or creeks this time of year, they immediately snatch your attention. Maybe it’s their sheer numbers (hundreds, if not thousands of them) and their extreme aerial acrobatics that catch your eye. Or, maybe it’s them coming in and out of their clusters of gourd-like mud nests clinging to the walls beneath bridge overhangs that capture your awareness. Or, perhaps it is the throng of bird activity along the muddy bank of a stream or mud hole …