LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is implementing a three-pronged approach to improve walleye fishing at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area. These efforts aim to balance the needs and concerns of anglers with successful management of the lake resource. Game and Parks will contract with the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln to design and conduct an angler survey in 2022 and 2023. Anglers will be asked about the number of …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Shopping for an outdoor enthusiast on your holiday list? The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offers these nine gift ideas sure to satisfy the outdoor enthusiast in your life: Annual state park permits: Nebraska offers more than 70 state park areas from one end of the state to the other, with opportunities for fishing, hiking, camping, wildlife watching, history or just enjoying the beautiful outdoors. A gift of a state park permit is a gift of experiences. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters in southeast Nebraska wanting to participate in the Hunters Helping the Hungry program will have one less meat processor available to them this season. Pelican’s Processing in Johnson has reached capacity for deer processing for the Hunters Helping the Hungry program and no longer will accept donations. The revised list of participating meat processors: Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats; Diller – Diller Locker; Franklin – Franklin Locker; Grand Island – Nielsen’s Processing; Lindsay – Melcher’s Locker; …

LINCOLN, Neb. — A workshop and mentored squirrel hunt for women age 16 and older is set for 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Cost is $15 and covers both instruction and materials. Lunch will be provided. An 8 a.m. learning session will cover squirrel hunting techniques and include target practice at the Nebraska Outdoor Education Center, 4703 N 44th St., Lincoln. The second half of the workshop will be a guided hunt outside of Lincoln city limits. A …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept submissions for the 2021 Nebraskaland Magazine photo contest through Jan. 1, 2022. With miles of winding rivers, wide-open vistas and wildlife from border to border, Nebraska is a photographer’s paradise. Each year, Nebraskaland Magazine celebrates the state’s beauty and recognizes the outstanding work of photographers across Nebraska during this annual photo contest. Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to submit photos in four categories: Wildlife — …

LINCOLN, Neb. – When the opportunity arose, Mitch and Heather Bartunek decided to introduce their 2-year-old daughter, Tinley, to fishing. And now, after winning the grand prize in the 2021 Take ’em Fishing program, they’re looking forward to enjoying future fishing trips with their growing family from a new Bass Tracker Classic XL fishing boat. “This gives us new opportunities to spend time on the water as a family,” said Mitch, whose name was drawn out of nearly 2,500 entries …

LINCOLN, Neb. — Join the Schramm Education Center near Gretna for a variety of fall education opportunities this month. All About Bats offered twice Explore the echolocators of Nebraska and learn about bat myths, adaptations and habitats during All About Bats and Bat Houses. The event will be offered twice: 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 22 at Schramm Education Center’s classroom and 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 29 at Louisville State Recreation Area’s Oak Shelter. Participants will discover how and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – October is Nebraska Reptile Month. By a proclamation from Gov. Pete Ricketts, Nebraska is recognizing the month as Nebraska Reptile Awareness Month. Reptiles benefit Nebraska by maintaining rodent and insect populations, serving as biological indicators of ecosystem health, and are predator and prey and aid in energy flow in a variety of habitats. The following are a few events in October to celebrate the proclamation: Nebraska Reptile Month K-12 Art Contest continues The Nebraska Game and Parks …

LINCOLN, Nebraska — Sen. Deb Fischer has signed onto a bipartisan wildlife conservation bill, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which will dedicate $1.4 billion annually to locally-led efforts to help at-risk wildlife species in Nebraska and nationwide. Approximately $17 million would go to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and be used to implement its wildlife action plan, a cooperation with organizations and landowners interested in financial and technical assistance to address conservation concerns and improve fish and wildlife habitat. Private …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioners on Sept. 29 appointed Tim McCoy to become the agency’s new director. McCoy, currently the deputy director, succeeds Jim Douglas, who is retiring Nov. 2 following 47 years at Nebraska Game and Parks, the last nine as director. “I am honored to be selected as the next director of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,” McCoy said. “It is a unique privilege and responsibility to lead the stewardship of Nebraska’s fish, …