Home » In The Wild (page 16)

In The Wild

About Morel Mushrooms This Spring

There is no doubt that your morel mushroom hunting grounds along river bottoms and their tributaries in eastern and central Nebraska were greatly impacted by recent catastrophic flooding. This is the most widespread damage the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has experienced due to a natural disaster. In my 40 years with the agency and growing up near the Platte River, I have never witnessed any natural catastrophe to this magnitude. So, as an outdoor enthusiast, maybe you’ve been thinking: …

Read More »

Hunting The Hills For Your Spring Gobblers

So, your spring wild turkey hunting grounds along river bottoms have been flooded, huh? I am sorry to hear that. The turkeys may or may not return to those river bottom grounds on a consistent basis. More than likely, severely flooded areas probably will be void of birds this season. It might be a good idea to do your homework and plan your route for heading for the hills. But maybe you have never hunted the rolling hills, steep grades and …

Read More »

Flooding Has Affected Us All

Flooding has truly affected us all in one way or another. Flooding has impacted my own family. Below is video from Friday, March 15, 2019 of flood waters going over the access road from Nebraska Highway 30 to  Timberwood Lake just west of the Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area where my daughter and son-in-law reside. Video courtesy of Wayne Preister of Ames, NE. Posted by Greg Wagner on Friday, March 15, 2019 My heartfelt thoughts go out to those who …

Read More »

Scott Frost Talks Hunting

I was fortunate recently to get to interview popular Nebraska Cornhusker head football coach Scott Frost at an event about his passion for hunting as part of my my Weekly TV Outdoor Report on Omaha’s WOWT 6 News. Coach Frost rarely grants interviews about himself personally so this was a treat! Click the link below to see Part 1 of the interview: https://www.wowt.com/content/sports/Part-1-Outdoor-Report-with-Coach-Scott-Frost-507113351.html

Read More »

Stocked Trout: Fun to Catch, Taste Great, Very Healthy to Eat

They strike often. They fight hard. They are easy to clean and cook. They are wonderful to eat and they have tremendous health benefits! They are stocked trout in Nebraska waters. A major asset along with many of its excellent qualities as a cold-water game fish is the fact that few foods are as nutritious as a stocked trout from Nebraska waters! And, get this: Tens of thousands of 10-12 inch rainbow trout are being stocked when the weather, conditions …

Read More »

Theft of Black Walnut Trees

I am shaking my head. It is so hard to believe. This scenario has been among the most surprising and shocking in my career as a conservation professional. More on that in a bit. All of us realize that wildlife-related crimes know no boundaries. Just like poaching game and fish, there are unethical, unscrupulous people, motivated purely by greed, who seek to profit without regard for natural resources, private or public property and ecosystem health. But now, valuable woodland habitat is …

Read More »

We’re back, we’re open!

Our Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Service Center/Office in Omaha at 8495 Frederick Street has reopened for business! Stop by! Valentine’s Day/2019 marked our reopening. We were closed for more than six months due to a fire on July 23, 2018 that occurred in the Frederick Plaza where we are located. Our space suffered extensive smoke and soot damage and had to be renovated from installing a new HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system on the roof to new carpeting …

Read More »

Bucket List Hunts In Nebraska

Do you have dream hunt you like to do someday? You know what I mean … a hunt you’d like to complete before you “kick the bucket?” Perhaps you have compiled a bucket list of hunts. Maybe you can’t afford a grandiose adventure to a far away place for exotic game but would like to stay closer to home to accomplish a memorable hunting experience. If you are looking for some ideas about Do-It-Yourself (DIY), value-driven bucket list hunts that …

Read More »

CRP, Grassland Conservation, Early Successional Habitat; Not Just For Pheasants

C-R-P, grassland conservation and early successional habitat. When those letters and words are brought up in a conversation, chances are the ring-necked pheasant will be mentioned in a sentence or two. Yes, CRP, grassland conservation and early successional habitat and pheasants all go together, but they also go with a lot of other wildlife. You see, our family farm is enrolled in the Unites States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Conservation Reserve Program or what is referred to as the CRP. …

Read More »