LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, has been issued for Calamus Reservoir in Loup and Garfield counties. An alert remains in effect for Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. The alert has been removed at Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County. Visitors to Calamus and Willow Creek state recreation areas should avoid full-body contact activities that could lead to swallowing water, such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering special antlerless deer hunting opportunities within Eugene T. Mahoney and Platte River state parks, as well as Schramm Park State Recreation Area. Successful applicants will be issued a special access permit that allows them to hunt antlerless deer in designated areas on certain dates using specific equipment. Successful applicants and interested alternates must attend an orientation session in order to receive the access permit. Applications, limited to one per …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The public is invited to review and comment on the 2021-2025 Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan: Guiding Success in Nebraska Outdoor Recreation until Nov. 6, 2020. This Plan is required by the National Park Service to be updated every five years to maintain eligibility for Land and Water Conservation grant funds for communities and state park outdoor recreation projects. The Land and Water Conservation Fund has contributed more than $49 million in funding Nebraska outdoor recreation facilities …

Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational state champion Gavin Carrizales of Scottsbluff is flanked by Nebraska Hunter Education Coordinator Jackson Ellis, left, and volunteer match director Matthew Haumont, right. (Nebraskaland Magazine/NGPC) LINCOLN, Neb. – Twelve-year-old Gavin Carrizales shot the first perfect score in history of the Nebraska Youth Smallbore Silhouette Invitational on Sept. 26 at Pressey Wildlife Management Area south of Broken Bow. The Scottsbluff sixth-grader hit all 40 silhouette targets to win the championship in just his second year of …

Zebra mussels encrust a fallen tree. LINCOLN, Neb. – As the waterfowl season approaches, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is reminding hunters to help prevent the spread of potentially damaging aquatic invasive species. Zebra mussels, Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, New Zealand mudsnails and other aquatic invasive species can “hitchhike” on hunting gear and be spread by droplets of water or tiny plant fragments. Aquatic invasive species cause irreparable harm to aquatic ecosystems and waterfowl habitat, severely impeding hunting, fishing …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Each fall trout make a migration to city park ponds and state parks lakes across Nebraska. Some find their way from the Grove Trout Rearing Station near Royal to Stanton Park Pond in Falls City. Others migrate to Riverside Park Pond near the zoo in Scottsbluff from Rock Creek State Fish Hatchery near Benkelman. By truck and trailer, more than 50,000 10-inch rainbow trout find new homes in 43 easy-to-fish locations around …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nunda Shoal boat ramp at Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area in Loup County will close temporarily starting Sept. 29 so that contractors can repair the damaged ramp. The ramp is expected to reopen by Oct. 1. To view an interactive map of other boat ramps available at Calamus or across Nebraska, visit Maps.OutdoorNebraska.gov/Boating. A park entry permit is required of each vehicle entering the state recreation area.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following are highlights of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in October. Get a more complete listing at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Oct. 1 – The Science of Wildlife Diseases, online webinar Oct. 1-31 – Paddlefish snagging season in specific area of Missouri River Oct. 3 – Dark goose hunting season opens in North Central unit Oct. 3 – Light goose hunting regular season opens statewide Oct. 3 – White-fronted goose hunting season opens statewide Oct. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – North Platte-area archers now have a venue to practice their sport as a public archery range has opened at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area. Built by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and local volunteers, the range is free to use and open during daylight hours. A vehicle park entry permit is required. Julie Geiser, a public information officer and instructor of outdoor skills for Game and Parks in North Platte, saw a need for an …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, remains in effect for Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County and Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. The alert has been removed at Bluestem and Pawnee lakes in Lancaster County. Visitors to Wagon Train and Willow Creek state recreation areas should avoid full-body contact activities that could lead to swallowing water, such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, …