NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider a staff recommendation to authorize one auction and one lottery permit for the 2018 bighorn sheep season when it meets Aug. 17 in North Platte. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the West Central Research and Extension Center, 402 W. State Farm Road. Also on the agenda are staff recommendations to: — amend fisheries aquaculture regulations regarding the application for importation of aquatic organisms and requirements related …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for the 2017 Nebraska State Fair with a full schedule of fun activities for the entire family. Game and Parks’ fair home is the Nebraska Building. Popular features and activities include an indoor archery range, indoor air gun range, kids’ Nerf gun range, bird scavenger hunt game, 6,000-gallon aquarium, indoor meandering stream, kids’ games, accessible outdoor sky fort, demonstrations and more. There also is a video display detailing the history …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Participate in a citizen science opportunity by pairing with an expert to find and identify as many species as possible in a specific area. Come to Indian Cave State Park near Shubert for BioBlitz on Sept. 9-10. BioBlitz is an opportunity to contribute to a scientific census of Indian Cave’s wildlife and plant life and to learn about each of the species counted. This free event for all ages will include birds, reptiles and amphibians, plants and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Educators of preschool through second grade are invited to the Monarchs on a Mission workshop Oct. 21 in O’Neill. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Northern Prairies Land Trust will host the half-day workshop at 8:30 a.m. at the Holt County Annex, 128 N. 6th St. This workshop will focus on inquiry-based lessons that educators can use in classrooms and activities for outdoors. After implementing any of the resources from the workshop into their classrooms, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A health alert is in effect for Pawnee Lake in Lancaster County. During water testing earlier this week, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality detected elevated toxin levels produced by blue-green algal blooms in Pawnee Lake. Visitors to Pawnee Lake Recreation Area should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. Dog owners are urged to keep pets out of the water …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Matthew “Sitting Bear” Jones will present a program on the Otoe-Missouria people of Nebraska on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Indian Cave State Park near Shubert. The presentation, which begins at 7 p.m., highlights how the Otoe-Missouria affected Nebraska, and how the Louisiana Purchase and Nebraska’s statehood affected the Otoe-Missouria people. The presentation is one of several activities planned at the park in the days leading up to the total solar eclipse on Aug. 21 and is made …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters are reminded that state recreation areas (SRA) are closed to hunting until Tuesday, Sept. 5. Several hunting seasons will be open during the Labor Day weekend. Archery deer, dove, grouse and other small game seasons will be open Friday, Sept 1. The early teal season begins Sept. 2. SRA regulations prohibit any hunting until the Tuesday following Labor Day, which is Sept. 5. Regulations state the portions of some SRAs are open to hunting from the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host several Learn to Hunt workshops this fall to help novices prepare for upcoming hunting seasons. These free workshops are designed to improve confidence and expand knowledge for those with little or no experience. There are workshops for deer, bird and predator hunting. Presenters will discuss strategies, equipment, biology and techniques. The workshop schedule is: Aug. 27 – deer hunting, Izaak Walton League, Bennet Aug. 29 – dove hunting, Nebraska …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Young rifle shooters will compete for trophies and medals at the annual Smallbore Silhouette Invitational on Sept. 30 at Pressey Wildlife Management Area (WMA). This free competition is for ages 11 and older who have passed hunter education but not yet graduated from high school. Proof of hunter education is required. Competitors, who will shoot steel silhouette targets, will be grouped in classes according to age, rifle weight, sight type and experience level. There will be individual …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may begin purchasing fall turkey permits Aug. 14 at 1 p.m. Central Time. Permits will be available at OutdoorNebraska.org and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting offices. A fall turkey permit is valid statewide and allows a hunter to harvest two turkeys of either sex with a shotgun or archery equipment. Each hunter may have up to two permits. There is no minimum age requirement for youth. The fall turkey season is Sept. 15 – Jan. …