Up for a challenge? How about harvesting a ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken and northern bobwhite quail in Nebraska this season. That’s the challenge of the Nebraska Upland Slam, a partnership among the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Pheasants Forever, Inc., and Quail Forever. This year marks the fifth year of the challenge. Hunters who take all four of Nebraska’s primary upland gamebird species upload a photo of each harvested bird online and share information about their hunting experience. …

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in September. Here are some opportunities: Growing Up WILD Educator Workshop set for Sept. 6 in Hastings A Growing Up WILD educator workshop, which provides an early foundation for developing positive attitudes and behaviors about nature and lifelong social and academic skills, is scheduled for Sept. 6 in Hastings. This award-winning early childhood curriculum guide is for educators of children ages 3-7. The guide builds …

Indian Cave State Park’s iconic cave, home to prehistoric Native American petroglyphs, is accessible to the public again now that construction of a new boardwalk and viewing deck is complete. The old boardwalk was unusable after a historic bomb cyclone in March 2019 saturated the area and caused a landslide. While the southeast Nebraska park’s old boardwalk was a series of steps and platforms, the new one has a ramp compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act and an 8-foot-wide …

Boating access improvements at Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area in southwest Nebraska have begun and are expected to last through the fall. Public access will be affected. Phase 1 of the project will restore boating access to Area A by extending the boat ramp. Other planned amenities here include Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant parking, a new breakwater to protect the ramp, a new staging area near the ramp, and a new gravel parking lot with lighting. Once work at Area …

By Renae Blum/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Busy state parks are busy for a reason: There’s plenty to do and lots to see. But there are plenty of quieter parks, too. They still offer amenities and attractions that make for a fun day or weekend, but typically aren’t as packed with visitors. Here are nine state parks to put on your list when you’re looking for peace and more relaxation. Niobrara State Park Niobrara State Park is a hidden gem: …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission earned 11 awards at the Association for Conservation Information annual conference held July 24-27 in Nashville, Tenn. The awards recognized excellence in outreach, education and communications. ACI is a nonprofit organization of natural resources communicators representing wildlife conservation and parks and natural resource agencies. Its annual awards contest recognizes excellence and promotes craft improvement through peer critiques. The awards are: First place in Communications Campaign, Educational for “Lake Mac Know Before You Go,” an …

Wagon Train State Recreation Area lake will be chemically renovated Aug. 10, weather depending, to remove the existing fish population. Activities at the rec area, about 2 miles east of Hickman, will be limited that day. The rotenone treatment is aimed at eliminating common carp, white perch and gizzard shad, which are detrimental to aquatic habitat and water quality. Because rotenone is a restricted-use pesticide, day-use areas and the swimming beach will be closed during the chemical application, and no …

Eight elk were harvested during Nebraska’s first special elk depredation season. Five bulls and three cows were taken during the July 1-31 season on private land in specific parts of Lincoln, Perkins, Keith, Deuel and Garden counties. “I would call the season a success, with eight elk harvested in a month compared to our general elk season, when five or six elk typically are harvested in six months in this area,” said Alicia Hardin, wildlife administrator for the Nebraska Game …

Louisville State Recreation Area will reduce the days the Floating Playground is open to Saturday and Sunday only starting the week of Aug. 8, staff permitting. The Floating Playground sessions are at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., and each session is 90 minutes. The park hopes to operate the Floating Playground on weekends through Labor Day. Guests planning to visit the Floating Playground are advised to first call ahead at 402-234-6855. All rules and policies will apply. Go to …

Platte River State Park will celebrate its 40th anniversary Aug. 13 with a daylong event for the entire family. There will be a bison stew cookout and Dutch oven desserts to sample, as well as food to purchase, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the ball field. Live classic country and country swing music will be playing. The amphitheater will be site of presentations at 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The first will be on Native American …