LINCOLN – Hunting, fishing and park permits for 2015 make great holiday gifts. Permits are easy to wrap and easy to buy – they’re available both on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission website, as well as at all Game and Parks offices. And they can be enjoyed all year long. Annual, multiyear and lifetime hunting and fishing permits are great gift ideas for those who enjoy outdoor adventures. Add a park permit to complete the package and open an …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska deer harvest is up slightly from 2013. As of Dec. 5, 44,379 deer have been taken in all seasons, compared to 42,562 by the same date last year. The biggest change from last year is the mule deer buck harvest, which is up by 575 animals (9 percent). Whitetail antlerless harvest has increased by 944 (8 percent), and whitetail buck harvest is up 327 (1 percent). The mule deer antlerless harvest is down 14 (1 percent). …

LINCOLN – Three public hunting areas in Lancaster County are being permanently closed to target shooting. As of Dec. 2, target shooting at Little Salt Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Little Salt Creek West WMA and Helmuth Public Access Area is prohibited. Target shooting has been banned in these areas because safety concerns. Target shooters are encouraged to shoot at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center at 4703 N. 44th St., Lincoln.

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds the public that it is invited to attend informational meetings regarding studies completed on the Niobrara River. Game and Parks will present information from the six studies it has completed about the function and values of the river. Those studies include the science behind the water levels in the river; the economic and social values of recreation on the river; the economic and social values of the river for agricultural, industrial …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering two free educator workshops in January focusing on birds. These Project WILD workshops will offer educator training in the “Flying WILD: An Educator’s Guide to Celebrating Birds” curriculum and activity guide. Participants will learn about Nebraska’s bird species and how to use birds and bird watching to engage students in science, nature and being outdoors. Participants will receive a copy of the curriculum guide, as well as other bird-related resources …

LINCOLN – A full schedule of programs is available in December at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln. All current military personnel and veterans get a 50-percent discount on lane fees each Monday in December. Seniors ages 60 and up get the same discount on Fridays. The education center is located at 4703 N. 44th St. This family-friendly center is open to all shooters and archers and offers a wide range of workshops and other activities …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission invites hunters and landowners to attend a public informational meeting in December to discuss big game issues. Meetings are scheduled in each Game and Parks district. Game and Parks biologists will explain and take questions on several topics, including deer management, deer damage and depredation permits, antlerless harvest, trophy management and diseases. Antelope and elk issues may be discussed at meetings located in areas where these species occur. All meetings begin at …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host free family archery events Dec. 6 in Lincoln and at Platte River State Park. These Archery on Fire events are designed to introduce a new outdoor skill to the beginner and to let more experienced archers sharpen their skills. The Lincoln event will be held at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, 4703 N. 44th St. In addition to archery, this event will feature Tomahawk throwing, a Hunger …

LINCOLN – A full schedule of programs is available in December at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln. All current military personnel and veterans get a 50-percent discount on lane fees each Monday in December. Seniors ages 60 and up get the same discount on Fridays. The education center is located at 4703 N. 44th St. This family-friendly center is open to all shooters and archers and offers a wide range of workshops and other activities …

LINCOLN – On Nov. 14, a single live adult zebra mussel was discovered attached to a boat dock at the Midway boat ramp on the South Dakota side of Lewis and Clark Lake near Yankton, S.D. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) staff inspected 11 additional boat docks and shorelines and found no additional zebra mussels in or near the lake. Several boats stored at a marina also were inspected and no mussels were found, though many boats already …