LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will return to the Nebraska Building for the 2016 Nebraska State Fair with a full schedule of fun activities for the entire family. Popular features and activities include an indoor archery range, indoor air gun range, kids’ Nerf gun range, 6,000-gallon aquarium featuring Nebraska fish, indoor meandering stream, kids’ games, demonstrations and more. New this year is an Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible outdoor sky fort, a playground that gives kids the opportunity …

LINCOLN – A health advisory is in effect at Branched Oak and Pawnee lakes in Lancaster County. During testing earlier this week, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality detected elevated levels of toxic blue-green algae at the lakes. Visitors to Branched Oak and Pawnee state recreation areas should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. The lakes will be tested weekly through the summer …

LINCOLN – Adult zebra mussels are established along the entire length of the Missouri River in Nebraska, according to recent field inspections conducted by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission aquatic invasive species technicians. In addition to the presence of these invasive mussels in the river from Gavins Point Dam downstream to the Kansas border, the zebra mussel population in Lewis and Clark Lake has moved farther west on the Nebraska side. Adult mussels have been discovered at the Miller Creek …

LINCOLN – Several state fishing records have been certified this summer by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The records, by fishing method, are: Rod and Reel — Dylan Turner of Lincoln set a record June 4 when he landed a 2-pound, 4-ounce yellow bullhead at a private pond in Otoe County. He caught the 14¼-inch fish with a chicken liver. Bowfishing — Jason Nowaczyk of Elkhorn set a record June 25 when he arrowed a 9-pound, 14-ounce shortnose gar …

LINCOLN – Enjoy nature’s light display by watching a meteor shower Aug. 12 at Fremont State Recreation Area (SRA). Come to the beach on Lake 20 for a viewing party starting at 10 p.m. Bring a blanket or a beach towel, stretch out on the sand and enjoy the show. A meteor shower is a spike in the number of meteors that shoot across the night sky. Most meteor showers are spawned by comets. As a comet orbits the sun, …

LINCOLN – Hunters may begin donating deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry (HHH) program Sept. 1 at 18 processor locations around the state. Three additional processors will accept deer for the program starting Nov. 12. Hunters pay no processing costs for deer accepted by processors for this donation-driven program. The HHH program provides ground venison to Nebraskans in need and is funded solely by tax-deductible contributions. Hunters should first talk with processors but may keep antlers, head and cape …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider proposed fee increases to some permits and stamps when it meets Aug. 18 in Broken Bow. Public hearings for the proposed fee increases will be held at the meeting. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the One Box Convention Center in the Cobblestone Inn and Suites, 2750 S. 27th Ave. Fee increases will be considered for several permits, including hunting, big game, fishing, paddlefish and park, as well …

LINCOLN – Recent Hunter Education graduates have an opportunity to learn more about hunting and shooting this fall through two mentored hunting programs. A joint effort of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Pheasant Forever and Quail Forever, these programs allow participants to take their new-found skills into the field, paired up with adult mentors. The programs are: Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Youth Mentored Hunt Program – This program, coordinated by Pheasant Forever and Quail Forever chapters around …

LINCOLN – Learn new management techniques for prairie restoration and pollinators at a free workshop Aug. 30 at Ponca State Park. The event, which is open to the public, also will include a tour of a Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Demonstration Site. This workshop will focus on high-diversity grassland plantings and restoration. This event is for landowners, conservation practitioners, Conservation Reserve Program owners, game farm and lodge owners, ranchers, agency managers, county weed inspectors, backyard native garden enthusiasts, natural resource …

LINCOLN – Young anglers in the Omaha, Lincoln and Kearney areas have a chance to catch some larger stocked channel catfish this summer. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recently planted some catfish 5 pounds and larger in those areas. Lake Halleck in Papillion and Bowling Lake in Lincoln each received 60 of the large channel catfish, while Fort Kearny State Recreation Area’s Lake No. 6 received 30. “There are limited numbers of these fish that can be produced in …