How To

I hope everyone reading this got to spend some time outdoors this past weekend.  Because it was a great extended-weekend to be out.  I got to see pictures of successful waterfowl hunts, archery deer hunts and even got to add some of my own rooster harvest photos. Due to several reasons (mainly food, football and family) my excursions were pretty short-lived – an hour here, a couple hours there.  I probably spent more time driving than I did walking behind …

To start with, the calendar says it is still officially fall until December 21st  but it seems to me that winter has been here for several weeks now! The sudden mid-November intrusion of arctic air into our area may have been a bit early for some plants. We will have to wait until spring to see if any damage was done to buds and twigs not hardened off yet. I thought I would mention a couple of things that can …

I am not sure where I found this, believe it was e-mailed to me, but I know it is good and I am going to recommend you check it out.  Orvis has a series of fly-fishing instructional videos they will e-mail you if you sign up, The Art of Fly Fishing . I am NOT some fly-fishing purist by any means, and I am not sponsored by Orvis.  My philosophy is that I want to catch fish and I will use …

Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend at Ponca State Park this Saturday, November 29. With Christmas just around the corner, warm up your cookie decorating skills and get a head start on holiday crafts such as homemade ornaments and greeting cards. The day will conclude with free family photos and lighted hayrack rides. All activities will meet at the Resource and Education Center. All ages welcome. Start your Christmas Day countdown by making your own natural chalkboard at 9 a.m. Participants must preregister …

My co-worker and buddy, Greg Wagner, usually blogs on Friday and mentions his weekly radio show which airs every Saturday morning on 1620 The Zone .  Greg has been busy at “deer camp” this week, so I want to mention it for him–tune in tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. central time. Greg’s show is always a good one because Greg is a wealth of information and he always has great guests (tomorrow’s guest might be a little “sketchy” but we …

In the December issue of NEBRASKAland Magazine, I have a lighthearted article on page 44 about my failed attempt to repair my beloved waders given to me as an anniversary gift by my wife years ago. As stated in the article, patching waders can be a futile effort. If you want to just make it through the season it can often be accomplished with some success, however. As a fisheries biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Joe Rydell …

Smoking your own meat, especially when the meat comes from an animal you harvested, is a rewarding and satisfying experience. Here are a few steps to take when smoking a deer roast with a dry rub: Rinse and dry the meat. Always rinse the meat off after it has been thawed and dry it with paper towels. This helps get some excess blood off and out of the meat prior to applying a rub. Adding vegetable oil to the meat is optional …

Few things on this planet can rival the excitement of  opening weekend of the Nebraska Firearm Deer Season.  Small towns all across the state are a buzz with orange clad hunters making the annual pilgrimage to their favorite haunts to chase deer critters, share stories, spend time with families and just live like outdoorsmen and women for a few days. The recent arctic blast should prove to be a huge bonus for deer hunters this weekend.  Plunging temps should result …

Celebrate the fall season on Saturday, November 15 at Ponca State Park. Enjoy crafts such as painting and building your own twig vase, while learning about natural science. All activities will take place in the Resource and Education Center. Meet at 10 a.m. for Q-tip painting. Learn why the leaves change color and fall as you paint your own autumn treescape. All ages welcome at $1/craft. Then discover the different kinds of trees around the park as you make your …

It’s the prime time to take to the tree stand for an archery deer hunt here in Nebraska! Archery deer hunting expert Ray Schuette of Plattsmouth, NE pays a special visit to my Saturday morning Great Outdoor Radio Show. Don’t miss an opportunity to chat with Ray! He is an accomplished bowhunter and is a mentor in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Mentored Youth Archery Deer Hunting Program.    You’ll find Ray highly informative, friendly and engaging. The Great Outdoor Radio Show I …