NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Small game, particularly squirrel, is a great way to introduce youth or novices to hunting. Skills, equipment and licensing are more basic than other types of hunting. “A hand-me-down .22 rifle or smaller gauge shotgun and almost any hardwood stand of trees can offer a successful endeavor for a new hunter,” Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Hunter Education Coordinator Jackson Ellis said. Squirrel season – Aug. 1 through Jan. 31, 2019 – is the first of Nebraska’s …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert has been issued for Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County and Rockford Lake in Gage County. Rockford Lake remains on health alert for the second straight week. During water testing earlier this week, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality detected elevated toxin levels produced by blue-green algal blooms in both lakes. Visitors to Willow Creek and Rockford Lake state recreation areas (SRA) should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet …

HEMINGFORD, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is reminding visitors to Box Butte Reservoir that motorized vehicles are restricted to roads, parking areas or trails designated for vehicle use. With water elevations lowered for dam repairs, many visitors to the lake have been accessing and traversing Box Butte Wildlife Management Area via the exposed shoreline and the Commission has closed some of the trails created from the traffic. The WMA includes the lake and all of the area …

HEMINGFORD, Neb. — Construction is underway for an upgraded boat launch facility at Box Butte State Recreation Area. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission employees closed the old boat ramp and adjacent parking area July 24 and began diverting boaters to a new temporary “primitive” boat ramp just to the west. Demolition of the old ramp is expected to begin immediately and the area is closed for safety. Steve Satra, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission program specialist, said the new handicapped-accessible …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Sutherland team of brothers Hunter and Jaron Cooper won the Bass Federation – Student Angler Federation Nebraska High School Bass Tournament Championship at Lewis and Clark Lake’s Weigand Marina on July 21. The team, coached by Kent Priel, caught five fish weighing a total of 12 pounds, 4 ounces. A Star City Anglers team from Wahoo took second place. Colton Kelle of Beatrice and McKael Gollin of Firth caught five fish weighing 9 pounds, 13 ounces. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in August. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. July 31-Aug. 2 – Learn to Hunt Camp, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln Aug. 1 – Squirrel hunting season opens Aug. 1 – Registration begins for Harvest Information Program Aug. 1 – Family Fishing Event, Mormon Island State …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Omaha service center will be closed until further notice. The office, located at 8495 Frederick St., was damaged when the Popcorn Shop, located in the same shopping center, caught fire early Monday morning. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Game and Parks staff were evaluating the extent of the damage to the Omaha office Monday morning. It is unclear how long the office will remain closed. In the meantime, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Participate in a free workshop on brush removal and mulching July 26 near Branched Oak State Recreation Area. Pheasants Forever, Quail Forever and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host this habitat tour from 9:30 a.m.-noon at the Branched Oak Maintenance Shop, 13401 W. Branched Oak Road. The tour will include demonstrations of brush removal techniques, chipping and mulch dispersal. Contact Bruce Sprague for more information at 402-335-7531 or bruce.sprague@ne.usda.gov.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Four free workshops on the use of growing season burns are scheduled across Nebraska in August. Each workshop will run from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and include lunch, live burn demonstration, and interactive discussion on summer burns. The workshops will be held Aug. 9 near Odessa, Aug. 14 at Spring Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Denton, Aug. 16 near Hartington, and Aug. 28 near Wisner. To register or view more information on each workshop, visit http://nebraskapf.com/product-category/tours. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host several Learn to Hunt workshops this fall to help individuals prepare for upcoming hunting seasons. These workshops are designed to improve confidence and expand knowledge for those with little or no experience. Presenters will discuss strategies, equipment, biology and techniques. Registration at OutdoorNebraska.gov/workshops is required as space is limited. The workshop schedule is: Aug. 28 – dove hunting, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln Aug. 30 – …