In The Wild

They’re more than just pets; more often than not, they’re members of your family who’ve stuck by you through thick and thin. But, like any living thing, they will eventually pass. The death of a pet to which we have become emotionally bonded can be a traumatic loss. Such was the case when my brother-in-law Dean had to put down Harley, his constant companion and dog of nearly eight years of age, recently due to terminal health issues. Harley was an English …

This past Thanksgiving weekend was a very special one for me and my family. On Saturday, November 28, 2015 at 12:31 p.m., we welcomed into the world a healthy 8 lbs. 1 oz. Jackson Edward Wagner, my first grandchild, woo-hoo! Let me tell you that the immediate relationship or bond between a grandchild and grandparent is a such a special one, it is indescribable! In my view, grandparents act as authority figures and provide unconditional love. They also get to spoil their grandchildren …

Like its domestic counterpart, the wild turkey is a bird that keeps on giving after your Thanksgiving holiday feast and even after everyone has enjoyed having a turkey sandwich or two. So, when your looking at what’s left of the great game bird’s carcass, it offers the final, arguably – the most delicious dish – (wild) turkey soup! And, WOW! Have I got a (wild) turkey soup recipe for you to try! The scrumptious recipe below was given to me …

I am currently in the field enjoying spending quality time with family and friends during Nebraska’s 2015 firearm deer hunting season (despite some of our ever-changing Nebraska weather conditions, HA!). We are seeing improved numbers of white-tailed deer on our farm and the adjacent farms that we hunt in southeastern Nebraska and had success on the opening weekend. My 18 year-old son Noah, a high school senior, who has enjoyed playing football at Omaha’s Creighton Prep High School, sums up his firearm deer hunting experience in …

Need a good venison burger recipe for a Nebraska deer that you have harvested or will harvest during one of our seasons? Here is a must-try, very healthy, tasty recipe for those of you who have or will have some wonderful, lean ground deer meat available fresh, or in the frig or freezer. The recipe is actually a healthy twist on an older recipe in my file. Even non-hunters and non-wild game meat eaters visiting the Wagner abode have greatly enjoyed this recipe! It …

U. S. Armed Forces Veterans are all around us. A huge debt of gratitude is owed to each and every one of them who have served and are currently serving to protect our freedoms, especially with Veterans Day, November 11th upon us this week. For me, Veterans Day takes on special meaning. It hits close to home and in the Nebraska outdoor scene. Me, my wife and family are very proud of my son-in-law, Specialist Tyler Nichols of Omaha, NE, who is presently serving with …

When you blog, sometimes the strangest things happen. I still find it hard to believe that a blog I did about Nebraska waterfalls a while back actually became a college class project for a graduate student at the University of Nebraska at Omaha! But, I learned last night that such was the case. Lacey Matney, a grad student in the Master of Science/Urban Studies program at UNO, dropped me an email message indicating that she had turned my blog post on waterfalls into …

Ring-necked pheasants are really a lot like us humans. They live their lives on a fairly predictable, routine basis. When a pheasant hunter learns to understand that schedule and interrupt the pattern, he or she will be on the path to having increased opportunities for success. Pheasants begin their day waking at roost sites, usually in areas of short to intermediate height grass or weeds where they have spent the night. At first light, they head for roadsides or other areas …

You’re walking in chest-high grass along the edge of a harvested cornfield when suddenly the hunting dog freezes and then leans toward a patch of thicker grass and bramble. You approach it with stealth. A flash of color suddenly rises out of the grass. Everyone yells: “Rooster!” It’s a rooster ring-necked pheasant. You know that you have a scenario for a safe shot. You raise your shotgun reminding yourself to aim slightly beyond the target and follow through with the shot.” You squeeze the trigger. The shot rings out. “Boom!” The rooster goes down. The dog retrieves the …

One of the most rewarding experiences for me has been making time to take my own kids out hunting. I have worked hard to pass along that great Nebraska hunting heritage and to instill in them an interest in hunting with an appreciation for nature. Consequently, today all of them enjoy various hunts here in the Cornhusker State. Having four kids ages 27, 23, 21 and 18, I know what it is like to usher in, nurture and train young hunters. …