NGPC News

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and its partners have received a $4 million grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore grassland and wetland habitat for at-risk species. A four-year conservation project will take place in the Sandhills and adjacent areas, where wetlands and streams face alteration and channelization. Grasslands also are being encroached by eastern redcedar, which can reduce the available forage for livestock, increase wildfire risk, reduce stream flow, and degrade wildlife habitat. A voluntary, …

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in December. Here are some opportunities: Little Saplings early childhood program presents Winter Woodpeckers 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 2022 series concludes Dec. 7 with the theme Winter Woodpeckers at 9 a.m. It is designed for children ages 2-5 and their …

Enjoy family-friendly Omaha magician Ryan Chandler as he performs at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park on Nov. 26 for the first of several dates. Chandler, who has appeared on television with magicians Penn and Teller, will perform at 3 p.m. at Kountze Memorial Theater. Other performances will be (all begin at 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted): Dec. 17; Dec. 31; Jan. 1, 5 p.m.; Jan. 14; Jan. 21; Feb. 11; Feb. 18; Feb. 25; March 11; March 18; March 25; …

Hunters are reminded they may donate harvested deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program at seven processor locations in Nebraska. The participating meat processors are: Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats Norfolk – R&M Meats North Platte – Kelley’s Custom Pack Table Rock – Den’s Country Meats Franklin – Franklin Locker Ulysses – The Butchery Lindsay – Melcher’s Locker Hunters pay no processing costs for deer donated to processors for this  program. But they should call the processor before hunting …

Hunters returned to rural Nebraska the weekend of Oct. 29 for the 2022 upland bird hunting season opener and found variable success. Based on field reports from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff and law enforcement, pheasant hunters had the greatest success in parts of northeast and south-central Nebraska, including the Rainwater Basin. Many hunters also found good numbers of quail, especially throughout their core range in south-central and southeastern Nebraska. In Nebraska’s traditional pheasant strongholds, including the southwest and …

The Main Area Campground at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area will be closed Nov. 2 until May 2023 for an electrical upgrade. All 82 sites at the Main Area Campground will be upgraded to 50/30/20 amp service. The increase in electrical capacity in each campsite will serve a broader range of visitor needs. It also will provide adequate levels of power to larger, more modern RVs and campers. The South Inlet Campground will remain open during this project. Johnson Lake …

Kissinger Wildlife Management Area near Fairfield remains closed to all visitors, including hunters and wildlife watchers, due to the presence of two endangered whooping cranes. It is illegal under federal and state law to harm or harass the birds; the temporary closure is intended to prevent such activity from occurring. The area will remain closed until further notice by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Waterfowl hunters can find alternative pumped wetlands nearby. Find information at OutdoorNebraska.gov/WaterfowlChecklist under the wetland conditions tab, …

Try to solve a mystery by participating in the Fort Atkinson Candlelight Tour – The Demise of Lt. Gabriel Field on Nov. 5. Lt. Field was a former soldier who was injured outside the fort, then rescued and returned to the fort. A guide will lead visitors on a 90-minute walking tour from room to room in the fort, where reenactors will portray events that would have taken place. By only communicating with the guide, visitors will try to learn …

Deer hunters are reminded to locate their nearest in-person check stations prior to hunting during the nine-day firearm season this year. All deer harvested during the Nov. 12-20 season must be accompanied by the hunter and taken to a check station no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season. Check stations change from year to year, so hunters are urged to find their locations before they hunt. A list may be found on the …

Standing Bear Lake will be drawn down this winter to make way for boat ramp repairs, access and habitat improvements, and fisheries renovation at the Omaha water body. Public fish salvage will be allowed. From Oct. 29, 2022, to March 31, 2023, anglers may salvage fish from the lake for human consumption by legal methods. Length limits will be rescinded during this period, but daily bag limits remain in effect. Find information on bag limits in the Fishing Guide at OutdoorNebraska.gov/Guides. …