Nebraskaland Magazine

[ Submitted by Mick Jensen- Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioner ] In Nebraska we are fortunate to have a variety of outdoor opportunities available to us regardless of the season.  Recently another commissioner, Rex Fisher, and I experienced a whirlwind (30 hour) outdoor experience we won’t soon forget. We left on a Friday afternoon traveling to Lynch, Nebraska on a predator hunt for coyotes. Coyotes had become a problem for a rancher friend of ours who was concerned for his …

I have a couple, three news items about Nebraska reservoirs.  None of them are long but I need to get this information out. . . . Conestoga Reservoir Just a quick heads-up for anglers and boaters who might want to use Conestoga Reservoir this spring.  That reservoir is found west of  Lincoln, between the towns of Denton and Emerald, and there has been some ice damage to the boat ramp. There will be at least one section of ramp that …

Okay, today I had more fun than should be allowed spring wild turkey hunting! I continue to do what I call are observation sessions with wild turkeys (even though I am toting crossbow equipment, calls, etc. to perhaps bag a gobbler if I feel like it during this archery period). I have purchased all three of my Nebraska spring wild turkey hunting permits and habitat stamp and know full well the season is a long one with outstanding numbers of …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Environmental Trust has awarded $1.5 million to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to enroll tall wheat and milo stubble into the Crop Stubble Management, Wildlife and Water Conservation Program for three years. The program will be offered in the Upper Niobrara-White, North Platte, South Platte, Twin Platte, Upper Republican, Middle Republican, Tri-Basin and Lower Republican natural resource districts (NRD) in southern and western Nebraska. Producers within the project area may receive $10 per acre …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Run wild June 1 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park to support the Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund. Celebrate the state’s wildlife and National Trails Day by participating in Run Wild, a 10-kilometer trail run in a wild animal costume. There also will be a 1-mile run for children. The Nebraska Wildlife Conservation Fund helps thousands of nongame species that call Nebraska home. Learn more about it at NebraskaWildlifeFund.org. Visit http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/programs/nongame/run_wild.asp to register. Registration fees are $35 through …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Come to the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium on April 20 for a presentation on Nebraska Vacation Hot Spots. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission public information officer Greg Wagner will present the free program from 1-2 p.m. in the Outdoor Education Center. The Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium is located south of Gretna in Schramm Park State Recreation Area. Call the aquarium at 402-332-3901 for more information.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska State High School Fishing Tournament will take place July 27 at Harlan County Reservoir near Alma. This third annual event is open to students in grades 9-12. Competition will be in teams, with each teaming having two anglers and a coach/boat operator. The event starts with a 6 a.m. rules meeting, followed by competition. The tournament ends at 1 p.m. and is followed by a weigh-in. “Not only is fishing a fun hobby, but this …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Ponca State Park will host its second Outdoor Cooking Camp May 3-5. The interactive camp includes a variety of specialty courses with hands-on instruction. Courses include campfire cooking, wild game sausage making, smoking meat and backyard barbecue, grilling techniques, fish preparation, canning venison, jerky making and dehydration, making strawberry preserves and Dutch oven cooking. Special nature-inspired programs for youth run concurrent with adult courses and include campfire cooking and safety, food art and wild edibles hike. The …

This will be the last season my daughter can hunt the youth spring shotgun turkey season.  I am going to savor every minute because I am going to miss it.  In my opinion the youth hunting seasons have been one of the best ideas “we”, the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, have ever had.  This week of youth shotgun spring turkey season is some of my favorite hunting every year.  It is so nice to be able to concentrate on …

I thought this season would never arrive.  Just ask my wife…I am sure she is sick of me talking about turkeys already.  I played with may calls, shot my bow, played with my decoys…heck I’ve even been dreaming about turkeys but alas….we are in the thick of it!  Here are some early season tips that may just help you bag that tom before most of your buddies have even dusted off their decoys.  Don’t forget…the youth shotgun season starts this …