LINCOLN, Neb. – Summer – well ahead of hunting seasons – is a great time to obtain hunter education certification. Although classes are available year-round, most traditional classroom courses and Hunt Safe Sessions are offered in the fall and spring. Mid-August through mid-November is packed with course offerings throughout the state. February and March also offer many classes. Firearm and bowhunter education covers the safety aspects of firearms and archery equipment, as well as the conservation management and ethics that …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Mindell Rethwisch of Elkhorn and Troy Stonacek of Lincoln have been drawn as lottery winners of two Super Tag multispecies big game permits. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission drew the names July 13. Thomas Hruby of Unadilla and Keith Chipman of Lakewood, California, have been drawn as winners of the Combo multispecies big game permits. The Super Tag and Combo permits are valid in 2017 and 2018. The Super Tag bag limit is one elk, one …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Portions of the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln will be closed to public use on upcoming weekends as it hosts Cornhusker State Games’ archery and shooting competitions. The center’s indoor archery range will be closed July 22. The outdoor archery range will be closed until 3 p.m. on July 22-23 and until 5 p.m. on July 29-30. The indoor firearm range will be closed July 23. Spectators are welcome to observe competitions. Cornhusker …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A 40-year-old man was hospitalized when a personal watercraft he was operating collided with another personal watercraft July 15 at Calamus State Recreation Area. A 29-year-old man, who was operating the second personal watercraft, was charged with boating under the influence and reckless operation in connection with the incident, which happened just before 6 p.m. west of Little York Point on Calamus Reservoir. Witnesses told investigators that both operators were weaving their craft back and forth when …

LINCOLN, Neb. – People interested in hunting deer at Gifford Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA) this season may apply for access permits through July 31, according to Neal Van Winkle of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Van Winkle, the Gifford Point WMA manager, said 200 authorization permits will be issued to allow deer hunters access to the area. To be eligible to apply, hunters must have at least one of the following valid deer permits: statewide archery, muzzleloader, youth …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Applications are being accepted until July 31 for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Trout in the Classroom curriculum program. Certified teachers are encouraged to take part in this innovative program that brings a fish hatchery into the classroom. Students learn about aquatic habitat, water quality, ecosystem interactions, food webs and life cycles while hatching and raising rainbow trout. The program, which began in 2013, is active in 62 classrooms across the state. Scholarship funding is available …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Standard and tent campsites at Niobrara State Park will close for road construction July 11 and reopen July 13 at 3 p.m. Contractors will mill the road cracks on the bottom of the 3-mile loop and mill the top half for paving. The RV campground will be fog-coated during this same period, and the road from the park entrance booth to the RV campground will be milled and resurfaced. Contact the park for more information at 402-857-3373.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Women who want to learn or increase their knowledge of shooting sports are invited to participate in the Beyond Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Summer Shooting Series. Expert instructors will teach participants all aspects of shooting sports, including safety. No prior experience is necessary and all equipment will be provided. Following are upcoming classes in July: July 12 – Introduction to Rifles, Platte River State Park (SP), 6-8 p.m., $10 fee July 15 – Ladies Day at the Range, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn all aspects of bow fishing at a clinic July 29-30 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Participants will learn basic bow fishing skills, including knowledge of archery equipment and fish identification. The free event will take place from 9 a.m. to noon at CenturyLink Lake. A park entry permit is required.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Results for elk, antelope and deer draw permit applications are now available and can be viewed at OutdoorNebraska.org. Click on Buy a Permit and then Draw Results. Deer and antelope permits that remain, including deer permits for all other units, will be available for purchase on a first-come basis beginning at 1 p.m. Central time on July 10. The drawing for deer, antelope and elk permits that typically are in the highest demand provides an equal opportunity …