How To

Want something fun, relaxing and unique to do with your family or friends this spring or summer? Well, well. I have an idea for you. How about floating a slow-moving, meandering, scenic Nebraska river downstream in a round, buoyant livestock watering tank? I know what you’re thinking, trust me, I do. But, let me tell you that this is one of the most amusing, interesting and memorable small group outdoor experiences you can have in Nebraska! Originating in the Sandhills …

I probably have too much clutter on my dresser.  One thing you can find in the junk and trinkets piled there is my very first turkey call. An instrument of torture. I did not start hunting turkeys until I was in college.  Still, that was a few days ago.  In preparation for that inaugural spring turkey hunt, my cousin Robin gave me my first turkey call.  As I recall it was a Christmas present.  It was a mouth diaphragm call, …

I have often said that THE KEY to spring turkey hunting is to scout, and then scout, and before you are finished, scout some more.  Simply put, no one can call birds where they do not want to go, so you better know where they want to be.  I will admit to you that my son has put in much more time scouting for us this spring, but the time spent hunting the same areas year after year, in other …

“What wild creature is more accessible to our eyes and ears, as close to us and everyone in the world, as universal as a bird?” – David Attenborough Are Everywhere You Are One thing you cannot help in this world is seeing birds. They are virtually everywhere! Look up, look down, look over there, go to the waters, the woods, the wavy field of grass or watch through the window of your home, you’ll see birds. More than 450 species of birds …

Still have an open spring turkey permit?  Me, too.  But with the season running until May 31 (what I believe to be the longest spring turkey hunting season in the U.S.) there is still plenty of time to get out and find a Nebraska gobbler or two.  In fact, I think the best of the season is just getting started.  Here’s why… The spring hunting trips I have been on this year have been filled with talkative toms. Even when …

My blog followers know that I have only one thing that really distracts me from fish and fishing all the time–spring turkey hunting. It is time, I am distracted! In the next few weeks, you can expect me to throw in the odd post or three about our Nebraska spring turkey adventures.  Might even mention a morel or two along the way. Opening weekend of our spring shotgun season presented my kids and I with some family obligations, so we …

I have tried a few times this spring to give you an idea of how busy Nebraska fisheries workers are at this time of year.  One of the largest efforts we have every spring is the collection of endangered pallid sturgeon from the Missouri River.  The goal of that effort is to collect reproductive pallid sturgeon adults, broodstock, that then can be used to produce small pallid sturgeon for re-introduction/re-stocking.  Here, just read this year’s newsletter for details: For a …

I got to surfing the interwebby once and discovered mushroom knives.  Mushroom knives?  Why in the world would anyone need a special knife for collecting mushrooms????  But then I got to looking at them, and you know what?  They are very useful and artful tools!  Here are some examples, mushroom knives from World Knives. There are several knives there that I would love to have in my pocket on a mushroom “hunt”. That got me thinking, mushroom hunting is a …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Guests at the 2017 Sip Nebraska wine festival at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park May 5-6 will be able to sample local craft beers, wines and hard ciders. Eight Nebraska breweries will attend the festival, including Empyrean Brewing of Lincoln, First Street Brewing of Hastings and Thunderhead Brewing of Kearney. The event will also feature nine wineries from across the state. Guests also will be able to enjoy educational wine and craft beer sessions, artisan and food …

Stumbled across this on the interwebs this week.  It is corny, but I loved it.  Before I quote it, here is where you can see the “original”:  Ordinary Outdoorsman. https://www.ordinaryoutdoorsman.com/an-open-letter-to-my-old-fishing-reel/?utm_content=bufferd7d8f&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer The only thing I would have to change about that little “ditty” is the reel–gotta be one of my beloved “cream and green” Zebco Cardinal 4’s!  Oh, and I ain’t retiring it. Back in my high school days I saved my pennies to buy my first quality spinning reel.  I …