NGPC News

Three archers repeated as state champions at the National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament March 17-18 at the Lancaster Event Center in Lincoln. Winning back-to-back titles were Harrison Harvey of Lincoln Southwest in the high school division, Ayla Salistean of Milford in the middle school division and Paul Ng of Omaha Mater Dei Academy in the elementary division. Harvey and teammate Aaron Wohleb scored 284 points — out of a possible 300 — for the highest scores in …

Plenty of improvements in Nebraska’s state parks await visitors in central Nebraska this year. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area At Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area near Valentine, multiple campgrounds saw improvements. Cedar Bay Campground electrical was upgraded at a cost of $155,973 and the shower house for $19,750. The existing dump station …

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officers and the Gering Police Department responded to the occurrence of a mountain lion on a security video twice recently. A mountain lion was recorded on a video in south Gering on March 9, then in a different part of town at 3 a.m. Sunday. It is not known if the animal seen on both videos is the same. Gering police officers and Game and Parks officers searched the area of Sunday’s incident but …

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in April. Here are some opportunities: Little Saplings program presents Terrific Trout Adults looking to explore the outdoors with their young children are invited to Little Saplings, a monthly early childhood nature discovery program at Schramm Education Center near Gretna. The 2023 series continues April 5 with the theme Terrific Trout at 9 a.m. It is designed for children ages 2-5 and their adult caregiver. …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved changes to 2023-2024 waterfowl hunting seasons in Commission Orders at its March 14 meeting in Kearney. For the 2023-2024 seasons, the Zone 3 and Zone 4 duck seasons will open a week later than last year with Youth Hunt dates the weekend prior. Other season dates are calendar date adjustments. Waterfowl seasons are set by balancing hunter preferences with migration, hunter harvest, and hunter participation. The approved 2023-2024 Nebraska waterfowl season dates are: …

Visitors to state park areas in southeast Nebraska will find enhanced day-use and camping amenities. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Indian Cave State Park A new boardwalk to the cave at Indian Cave State Park has been installed, replacing the one destroyed by mudslides in 2019. This boardwalk is compliant with the American with Disabilities Act and …

Updated March 17, 2023 Guests at northeast Nebraska state park areas were treated to some improvements in 2022, with more set to be completed in 2023. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Summit Lake State Recreation Area Summit Lake State Recreation Area near Tekamah saw aquatic habitat and angler access improvement projects completed to improve the fishery and guests’ experience. The west and south sediment basins were excavated to restore them to their original capacity and …

Visitors to Nebraska’s south-central state parks will notice several improvements this year. Projects completed in 2022 or to be finished in 2023 will appeal to an array of park users. The following is a roundup of those improvements and projects: Johnson Lake State Recreation Area At Johnson Lake State Recreation Area near Lexington, 70 campsites are being upgraded to 50-amp electrical service and one site is being upgraded to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This project, to …

New visitation rules will be in place this spring at Grove Trout Rearing Station in Antelope County for the safety of the trout being raised there. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is balancing its obligation to raise quality, healthy trout with its commitment to education and visitation at the popular facility. Although most visitors have followed the facility’s rules, some have not, causing stress to fish that compromises their health and increases mortality. Treating the trout has led to …

A public informational meeting about the walleye fishery at Lake McConaughy will be March 27. The meeting is at 7 p.m. Mountain time at the Lake McConaughy Visitors and Water Interpretive Center. The topics Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff will discuss include fisheries management, ongoing research, angler survey results, and plans for 2023. This session will provide a chance for questions, dialogue and feedback. The visitor center is located one-quarter mile south of Kingsley Dam on Highway 61.