LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission invites landowners in southwest Nebraska to attend meetings regarding property damage caused by big game wildlife. These meetings will help Game and Parks assist landowners experiencing crop damage from deer and other big game species. The meetings will help staff understand the issues and discuss tools that may assist with wildlife damage. Landowners who have experienced crop damage or stored feed issues with species such as deer are invited to attend. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved 2019 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 15 meeting in Nebraska City. The approved recommendations moved the early teal season approximately one week later than in 2018 to accommodate weekend days. All other waterfowl season recommendations included only calendar date adjustments. The 2019 waterfowl seasons are: Early Teal – Low Plains: Sept. 7-22; High Plains: Sept. 7-15; Daily bag limit: six; Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and University of Nebraska-Lincoln invite the public to attend a Salamander Search Citizen Science Workshop on April 20 at Indian Cave State Park. UNL herpetologist Dennis Ferraro will give a presentation on finding, identifying and recording salamander sightings and contributing that information to this citizen science project. At sunset, participants will join Ferraro and Game and Parks staff to survey for salamanders throughout the park. The free event begins with a …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications for a 2019 bighorn sheep lottery permit beginning April 15. The application period ends Aug. 2, and the permit will be drawn Aug. 28. A $29 nonrefundable application fee must accompany each application. Only Nebraska residents are eligible for the lottery. Apply at a Nebraska Game and Parks office or at OutdoorNebraska.org. The 2019 bighorn sheep season is Dec. 3-22.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Registration is open for runners to enter the Mushroom Run at Indian Cave State Park. The run will be held in conjunction with the park’s annual Outdoor Adventure on April 27. The run includes the Morel Mile and 5-kilometer races. Each begins at 8 a.m. The $20 entry fee includes a T-shirt and biscuits and gravy breakfast. Register at outdoornebraska.org. Other family events for the Outdoor Adventure include a mushroom hunt contest, fish fry, musical entertainment, hayrack …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider 2019 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 15 meeting in Nebraska City. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. in the Terrace Room of Lied Lodge and Conference Center, 2700 Sylvan Road. A public hearing is scheduled at the meeting for the waterfowl recommendations. The recommendation for early teal moves the season approximately one week later than 2018 dates to accommodate weekend days. All other waterfowl season recommendations include …

LINCOLN, Neb. – More than 800 students from 36 schools around the state are expected to compete in the annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament March 23 in Lincoln. The event takes place at Speedway Sporting Village, 345 Sporting Village Drive. Action begins at 9 a.m. and will continue through the afternoon. NASP is a national target archery program for students in grades 4-12. More than 280 schools in Nebraska have NASP as part of their …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Private pond owners should be wary of fish possibly succumbing to winterkill. A prolonged winter and recent frigid weather are keeping ponds covered with snow and ice well into March, creating conditions for a winterkill, said Jeff Blaser, private waters specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Winterkills typically occur in small, shallow ponds with abundant aquatic vegetation. Snow and ice covering a pond prevent the water from exchanging oxygen with the air. Excessive snow and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – With frigid temperatures gripping much of the state and many lakes locked with thick ice, the spring stockings of rainbow trout and the season opener at the Two Rivers State Recreation Area Trout Lake are on hold. “Due to the extreme cold weather we have been having, the spring trout stockings and Two Rivers opener will be postponed until more seasonal weather permits the hatcheries to get the fish into the lakes and there is open water …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Randy Stutheit, wetland biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, was presented the Ducks Unlimited (DU) Wetland Manager Award on Feb. 28. John Denton, DU’s manager of conservation programs for Nebraska, made the presentation at Game and Parks’ Lincoln headquarters. Stutheit also was recognized that evening at the Lancaster County DU banquet. Stutheit, who has more than 35 years of service with Game and Parks, works on wetland conservation projects throughout the state. One of his …