LINCOLN, Neb. – Nature Tails, a virtual six-week series for pre-K children and their parents and caregivers, will be hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission every Tuesday starting Sept. 29. Each week, via Zoom, outdoor educators will read a nature-themed children’s book based on that week’s theme. There also will be an activity in which the children and their families can participate. Programs are free and no registration is required. Join via the link bit.ly/NatureTails. The programs, which …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Students in kindergarten through 12th grade can discover the outdoors by participating in the second annual Nebraska Fish Art Contest. The 2021 contest, which is sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Wildlife Forever and Bass Pro Shops, is accepting entries through March 31, 2021. Enter at statefishart.org. This free international art and writing competition gives young people the opportunity to highlight their artistic talents while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation. Participants can win …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, remains in effect for Pawnee and Wagon Train lakes in Lancaster County and Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. Visitors to Pawnee (east and west beaches), Willow Creek and Wagon Train 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, fishing and camping are OK. Dog …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Fall is here, and Nebraska’s outdoor resources offer a variety of ways to have fun, relax and enjoy nature. Here are a few activities the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission recommends exploring in the coming months. State parks – Less crowded and decorated with autumn color, Nebraska’s state park areas are a great place to be in the fall. Take advantage of the cool weather and enjoy your favorite outdoor recreation activity, whether that be fishing, boating, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Lake 1A at Louisville State Recreation Area has been renovated to remove rough fish, especially silver carp. Lake 1A and Lake 1, which will be renovated the week of Sept. 13, were invaded by unwanted species during the 2019 spring flooding of the Platte River. The 1-acre Lake 1A was treated Sept. 8 with rotenone, which is a toxicant used to eliminate fish. The lake was found to contain more than 200 silver carp of at least …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters will take to the field Sept. 15 for the start of the fall turkey season. Nebraska, one of the nation’s top turkey hunting destinations, has the birds, permits and opportunities for a great outdoor adventure. Turkey hunting can be combined with big game, upland game, waterfowl or fishing for a true Nebraska mixed-bag outdoor adventure. There are plenty of other reasons to undertake a Nebraska turkey hunt: • Wild turkeys may be found in all 93 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, has been issued for Pawnee Lake in Lancaster County. The same alert remains in effect at Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County and Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County. The alert has been removed at Rockford Lake in Gage County. Visitors to Pawnee (east and west beaches), Willow Creek and Wagon Train state recreation areas should avoid full-body contact activities that could lead to …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska is the mixed-bag capital of the Great Plains, and another fall of diverse upland bird hunting opportunities awaits hunters. The Southwest and Panhandle regions will provide the best hunting opportunities for pheasants this season, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Upland Game Bird Hunting Outlook. These regions, along with the Northeast, had notable increases in counts during this year’s July Rural Mail Carrier Survey. Statewide, pheasant numbers were 5% higher compared to 2019, and …

By Larry Pape Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Nebraska is home to more than 100 fish species. Many of these will never be encountered on a fishing hook because their size, habits or habitats make them unavailable or undesirable to anglers. Most fish that can be caught by hook and line are designated as sport fish species. Nebraska offers opportunity for more than 40 of these species. It is good to know which sport fish you are catching since several …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Free Fishing and Park Entry Day in Nebraska has been rescheduled for Saturday, Sept. 12. September is a great month to get outdoors in Nebraska! Free Fishing and Park Entry Day allows anyone to explore outdoor opportunities at any Nebraska state park, state recreation area or state historical park without the need to purchase a park entry permit for the day. It also allows anyone to fish for the day without a fishing permit. Anglers must observe …