NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. — Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in celebrating its first state recreation area in a Blast from the Past throwback event July 10 at Victoria Springs in Custer County. Watch a vintage baseball game; follow along on a history walking tour of grounds; take a paddleboat out for a spin on the lake; or catch a spectacular laser light show highlighting the parks’ centennial year. “This event truly will be a Blast from the Past and …

LINCOLN, Neb. — Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala state recreation areas are fully booked from July 2-5 for overnight campgrounds, including beach campsites. Overnight visitors interested in visiting the two western Nebraska reservoirs for the upcoming holiday are encouraged to find alternative lodging. Find local community hotels, vacation homes by rental, cabins and private campgrounds at ILoveLakeMac.com. Visitors should check availability at private overnight accommodations. Day-use activities, such as fishing, boating, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, hiking and bird watching remain available with …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska has many native pollinators, including more than 200 species of butterflies alone. Celebrate the role they play during Nebraska Pollinator Week this June 21- 27. Through the pollination of crops, insect pollinators add more than $217 billion to the worldwide economy. Species also pollinate more than 180,000 plant species worldwide – ensuring ecosystems produce food for countless other species, including pheasants, songbirds and mammals. Nebraska Pollinator Week is the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s statewide focus …

LINCOLN, Neb. – In an effort to provide better customer service, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is staggering the beginning sale dates for big game permits. Staggering the sale dates will help the electronic permitting system run more efficiently during high-use periods. In addition, Game and Parks has added software to the system that puts online permit buyers in a purchasing queue for processing during high-use periods to maintain traffic load. Permits with unlimited quotas will be available first, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters have until July 2 to apply for a 2021-2022 multispecies lottery permit. Two types of permits are available: Super Tag and Combo. The Super Tag permit is valid in 2021 and 2022 for one elk of either sex, one antelope of either sex, one deer of either sex, and two turkeys (only toms and bearded hens may be taken in the spring). The permit is valid in open seasons with the appropriate weapons. One Super Tag …

LINCOLN, Neb. — A 15-year-old girl from Bayard was injured in a jet ski accident Saturday night at Bridgeport State Recreation Area near Gering, Nebraska. She is recovering at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora, Colorado. The teen was injured at about 6 p.m. Mountain time when the jet ski on which she was riding passenger was struck by a second jet ski also driven by a teen from Bayard. The three teens had been riding two jet skis around the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved a 2021 river otter harvest season and a 2022 mountain lion hunting season at its June 11 meeting in Chadron. The Nebraska River Otter Management Plan was adopted by the Commission. The goal of the plan is to maintain resilient, healthy and socially acceptable river otter populations that are in balance with available habitat and other wildlife species. Otters, at one time on the state Endangered List and then the …

LINCOLN, Neb. — In honor of 100 years of state parks, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is calling on birders to find and identify 100 bird species in its park areas by the end of 2021. Birders of all experience levels are invited to visit Game and Parks’ state parks, state recreation areas, state historical parks or wildlife management areas to spot birds and log them using eBird or iNaturalist. Both are available online or via mobile app. Once …

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission parks system centennial is in full swing, and June still offers plenty of opportunities to celebrate at state parks across the state. So hop in the car and hit the road for one of the following opportunities for adventure. Rock Creek Station hosts Ranch Life Saturdays LINCOLN, Neb. — Travel back in time to the mid-1800s during living history Saturdays at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park in southeast Nebraska. From …

LINCOLN, Neb. — Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area will be hosting National Marina Day on June 19 at the park near Crofton. Event highlights include a campsite or cabin marina-themed decorating contest, sandcastle building competition, lure making, fishing, hayrack rides, outdoor games and a fish fry. The fish fry will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Dinner will cost $12 for ages 13 and up; $6 for ages 4 to 12; and free for those 3 and under. The …