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Forty-four years is very long time for anything, isn’t it? Forty-four years is an exceptionally long time for working at the same organization. Think about — nearly four-and-a-half decades. WOW! This year, 2023, marks the beginning of my 44th year at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. My career spans a few different divisions within the agency – Fisheries, Parks and Information and Education (now Communications). I will be 61 years of age this year and I started working at …

I am a hunter. I write and speak about hunting. I take images and record videos of hunting. I interact with hunters. Hunting is a major part of both my personal and professional lives. With my occupation (as a longtime communications and marketing specialist at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission) and through my personal social media accounts, I am still continually asked: “Why do you hunt?” The answer is not a simple one.  And, no, “it ain’t about the …

I sure enjoy ice fishing when the thick, solid ice arrives on frozen lakes and ponds in Nebraska, but I admit I don’t do much of it. Nevertheless, when there’s an invitation to go with seasoned ice-fishing veterans, you can bet that I will have my fishing permit, grab my current fishing regulation guide and jump at the opportunity. Hey, there’s fish to catch! Such was the case a few years back when Ty Stromquist of Norfolk and his dad, …

The holiday season is upon us and it’s filled with many hunting traditions as family and friends get together, especially in waterfowl hunting blinds. A young woman smiles with excitement during a break in a waterfowl hunt along a Platte River wetland in rural Butler County, NE. Photo by Greg Wagner/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. For most of us, hunting is about much more than a successful harvest. It’s about spending time afield bonding with family and friends, watching the sunrise …

It is the late period for deer hunting now and things can sure get tougher. But don’t put away your gear and hear me out. I want to use a football analogy that many of you who hunt deer will understand when it comes to the late-season. For a football team, it is often necessary for coaches to make adjustments to their game plan at halftime. If the defensive backs are locked in on the receivers every play, consideration is …

The holiday season is upon us and the arrival of 2023 is just around the bend. The holiday period with the new year beckoning gives us a segue to pause and reset, recharge and re-focus our energies. In all sincerity, this season coupled with the new year allows us to curb our bad habits, improve ourselves, change our outlook on life to a positive one and see how we can make a difference. As avid outdoors-persons, this time of year …

By Renae Blum Hikers seeking a challenge will find what they’re looking for on these five Nebraska trails. Along several, hundreds of feet of elevation changes will test your hiking stamina, but scenic views make it worth the climb to the top. Other trails take time to complete or offer minimal protection from the elements. Whichever trail you choose, you’ll get to enjoy the beauty of scenic Nebraska – along with the satisfaction of tackling a challenge. Trail 10, Indian …

I know it sounds cliché, but I’ll be the first to admit it. As a hardcore outdoor enthusiast, finding a holiday gift for me is a difficult task. In fact, whether you hunt, trap, fish, boat, kayak, camp, backpack, hike, bike or watch wildlife, I bet you are also in the hard-to-buy-for category. Am I right? We are a picky lot, aren’t we? We are a detailed bunch. We know what we need and desire to have. And what the …

The season for gratitude and reflection is upon us. Thanksgiving week is when we remind our families, friends and close associates how much they mean to us and express our sincere appreciation for what positive things we have been given in life. While you are considering what you are thankful for, don’t forget about Nebraska’s outdoor scene. During the nine days of the recent firearm deer hunting season here in Cornhusker State, I selected a dozen key elements to be …

I know I am not the only one.  There are some of you that are just as crazy as I am. . . . This cold snap has us wondering how soon we might be on the ice! Now, I am not going to post my annual reminder about ice safety, yet.  My bet is it is going to be a while yet before we have enough ice to be ice-fishing.  However, I know it is not too soon to …