Hunting

LINCOLN – This year marks the 20th anniversary of Nebraska’s mentored youth hunting program, which has grown to be one of the largest in the nation. Nebraska’s mentored youth hunting program began with six Pheasants Forever chapters – Cornhusker, Elkhorn Valley, Great Plains, Loup/Platte Ringnecks, Otoe County, and Republican Valley – in 1996. These chapters sought a solution to declining hunter numbers and wanted to provide youth the opportunity to hunt in Nebraska. In the first year, 207 volunteer mentors …

LINCOLN – Youth ages 15 and younger are encouraged to participate in special youth pheasant hunts during the Oct. 22-23 statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season. Rooster pheasants will be released at 14 wildlife management areas before the special youth hunt season. The special hunts are open to the public, and the number of participants is not limited. No registration or special permit is required. Special regulations posted at each of the 14 WMAs will apply to all portions …

LINCOLN – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) events and important dates in October. Get more details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Sept. 30-Oct. 2 – Autumn Harvest Art Show, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP), Ashland Oct. 1 – Advance tickets sales begin for Haunted Hollow, Indian Cave SP, Shubert, 8 a.m. Oct. 1 – Archery Fun Shoot, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor …

I know the ‘grass is greener‘ syndrome can be very prevalent in outdoor pursuits and it can be easy to overlook what blessings we have around us.   Even in Nebraska, the mixed bag capital of the nation, we sometimes forget just how good we have it. I’m often reminded of just how much of the outdoor lifestyle makes up ‘the Good Life‘ when talking to hunters that live outside our borders.  Almost invariably, when they find out I live in …

LINCOLN – Nebraska is among the nation’s top eight pheasant hunting states, according Pheasants Forever (PF). “The Cornhusker State is a bird hunting cornucopia,” writes PF blogger Ron Spomer. “You’re liable to bump into not just ringnecks, but bobwhites, sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens. And you can look for them on 800,000 public access acres on 300 state and federal land areas. That’s only 2 percent of the state’s total land, so if you can talk yourself onto private lands, …

Got to looking at the calendar and was reminded that tomorrow is “National Hunting and Fishing Day“.  I like to point that out each year, if I remember, because I believe Nebraska is the perfect state for combining hunting and fishing opportunities, especially in the fall.  I call it “combodacious” because we have such a diversity of fish and game and with long hunting seasons and perpetual fishing seasons the opportunities can overlap.  In times past Nebraska bragged about being …

I have just recently arrived back from my first ever pronghorn hunt and I would love to quickly share the story of the adventure before the crispness of the experience is dulled by passed time and the facts become muddled. With enough preference points my wife and I were able to secure a pair of muzzleloader permits in a coveted unit in Nebraska’s panhandle.  We were very excited and talked to many people about pronghorn – some of which were …

LINCOLN – Learn everything there is to know about muzzleloaders at the Muzzleloader Sight-In and Family Rendezvous on Oct. 9 at Platte River State Park. The event will be held at the Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Participants will be able to sight in their muzzleloaders for $5. Several free family-friendly activities are scheduled, including youth archery, slingshots, atlatl and tomahawk throwing, pellet gun and muzzleloader shooting, campground games and Dutch oven cooking. Treats …

LINCOLN – Just in time for the fall turkey season, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has finished its analysis of a survey of spring turkey hunters. According to survey results, spring turkey hunters enjoyed a high rate of success in Nebraska in 2016. More turkeys were harvested during the 2016 spring season compared to 2015, despite a slight drop in the number of permits sold. Hunters who provided email addresses at the time they purchased 2016 spring turkey permits …

LINCOLN – A tree stand is a basic tool of many archery deer hunters. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission urges hunters to use the equipment safely in order to have a memorable and successful hunt. Nebraska Hunter Education Coordinator Wendy Horine suggests hunters follow these tips to hunt safely using a tree stand: — Always use a fall arrest system rated for your personal weight. “Ropes or other homemade devices should never be used as a substitute for a …