LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on Jan. 20 adopted amended regulations that will allow people to obtain boating safety certification via an online course. The amended regulation will help streamline boater education by increasing opportunities for constituents, while retaining the classroom and home-study options for obtaining certification. Any boat operator born after Dec. 31, 1985 must have successfully completed the Nebraska boating safety course and be in possession of a valid certificate. Another boating regulation amendment …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Persons interested in pond and lake management are invited to a series of free workshops this spring. The workshops are a joint effort of the Nebraska Extension, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The workshops are intended for landowners and others interested in learning about: — Sandpit lake functions, characteristics and challenges — Managing waters for fisheries — Lake management planning — Resolving common maintenance problems — Toxic algae management and sampling …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The indoor archery range at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln will be closed Jan. 21 for a private event. The range also will be closed all day on Feb. 4-5 and until 4 p.m. on Feb. 18 for events. The education center is located at 4703 N. 44th St. Aside from special closures, the indoor archery and firearm ranges are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from noon to 8 p.m. and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is looking for information regarding the illegal shooting and wanton waste of two deer a few miles northeast of Osceola in Polk County. In the early morning of Dec. 27, 2016, a landowner reported to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office that he had heard five gunshots near his rural residence. The landowner observed a vehicle – possibly a silver pickup – leaving the area. An adult doe was found dead in …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Tax season provides Nebraskans a unique opportunity to contribute to wildlife and habitat conservation. Line 42 on 2016 state income tax Form 1040N allows individuals to donate all or a part of their tax refund to the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund, ¬which focuses on saving Nebraska’s wildlife and wild places. “The check-off is one of the principal sources of state funding used to conserve more than 95 percent of fish and wildlife species that are considered nongame,” …

LINCOLN, Neb. – In 2016, a record 159 active bald eagle nests were documented in Nebraska by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and its partners. It was the third consecutive year the number of nests has broken the previous year’s record. Bald eagles were on federal and state endangered species lists as late as 2007 and 2008, respectively. The species has gone from a nonexistent breeding species in the state to one that is relatively numerous in less than …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Whether you’re new to hunting or an experienced die-hard, you can learn something new at three upcoming venison and game bird cooking classes taught by Cure Cooking at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP). The Jan. 21 Deer Sausage Making class will focus on the craft of natural sausage making for deer and other game using traditional methods – no pre-made mixes involved. During the Fresh Venison Cookery class on Jan. 28, students will explore several venison …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s outdoors in the winter can be just as much fun as the other seasons. Whether it’s hunting, ice fishing, cross country skiing, sledding or snowshoeing, the state has great outdoor opportunities. Being outdoors in the winter also means being safe in the coldest of temperatures. Avoiding hypothermia is critical. Hypothermia is a low body temperature most often caused by exposure to cold weather or immersion in a cold body of water. Some symptoms include shivering, confusion; …

(corrects fifth paragraph) LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider at its Jan. 20 meeting a regulation amendment that would allow people to obtain boating safety certification via an online course. The meeting is at 8 a.m. in the third-floor conference room of the Commission’s Lincoln headquarters, 2200 N. 33rd St. If passed, the amended regulation would help streamline boater education by increasing opportunities for constituents, while retaining the classroom and home-study options for obtaining certification. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will hold a big game informational meeting Jan. 18 at 7 p.m. at the Elkhorn Eagles Club, 20276 Wirt St. The public is invited. Commission biologists will begin with a presentation on deer management. Other wildlife management topics will be discussed as time allows. Another big game meeting will be held Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. at Wilber’s Sokol Auditorium, 315 S. Wilson St. That meeting will be streamed live on …