Tag Archives: Hunting

The morning air is crisp and cold. Hardwood trees stand motionless and silent — faint brush strokes against the slowly lightening predawn sky. As light emerges, wild plants still green are bejeweled with dew. Small sounds begin to carve the creek bottom. A raucous calamity of crows can be heard in the distance. An assertive, vociferous blue jay appears on a limb. Two fox squirrels squabble amid the leaves on the woodland floor. The insistent nasal yammering of a white-breasted …

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 …

Conditions are ripe for the oldest millennial in our family to continue to hunt. Our son, Zach, is at an age (29) where he has transitioned through many life stages — secondary schooling, new career, marriage and a child. You might think the demands of these stages compete for his limited time and resources, but actually, they don’t. These transitions have presented opportunities for tradition and family history within the lifestyle of hunting to emerge and be fostered. You see, Zach is among the millennial generation, also known as Generation Y or those born in the 1980s to the early 2000s. They currently total more than 80 million in the U.S., are the largest group of Americans alive today, and are said to be the largest cohort or group in history. Nevertheless, …

I love to cook! And like most folks, I love to eat.  One of my favorite things to do with family and friends is prepare a big meal with just about everything on the table being something I grew in my garden or harvested from the field.  But when you start to talk to those who have yet to indulge in the bounty of the great outdoors (a.k.a. wild game) you might be witness to some scrunched faces and even an occasional …

Are you a hunter? Have you have received a couple emails from us at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission asking something about hunting surveys? If so, answer them, don’t delete or trash them! But, why? Why does Game and Parks care about what I think as a hunter or what wild game I put in my freezer during these past seasons? Well, let me tell you that our wildlife biologists are genuinely, genuinely interested in what you think about the different aspects of hunting here in Nebraska and how you did in the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) events and important dates in February. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Feb. 1-2 – Growing Up WILD workshop, Grand Island Feb. 3, 10, 17 – Beginner Muzzleloader, Wildcat Hills Shooting Sports Complex, Gering Feb. 4 – Birds and Binoculars, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP), Ashland Feb. 4 – Game Bird …

It is late November again and time to head out the door for Grandma’s house for the annual Thanksgiving feast.  This year I started doing some research on the origins of Thanksgiving, but I did not go far before it made my head hurt.  Like many things related to history, there is some debate as to origins, exact times and places, etc., etc.  In addition to the United States and Canada, there are some other places that observe thanksgiving holidays, …

Deer hunters, save the heart of that deer you harvest this season! Don’t just toss it in the gut pile for the crows and coyotes to eat, unless it is shot. Why? Because the heart of a wild, free-ranging deer is “muscle meat” and is as good as a piece of tenderloin! Master chefs and outdoor enthusiasts such as Andrew Zimmern, Hank Shaw, Ben Ford, Toufik Halimi and Krissie Mason all tout the filet mignon-like succulence of venison heart. Packed with …

Only those who have walked into the silent woods together in the predawn hours and waited motionless for white-tailed deer amid the woods in a stand or blind as the different hues of daylight unfolded truly understand. Only those who have watched a canine companion intently work with a grassy field for upland game birds with family members and friends truly understand. Traditions. They are a major part of us and our values. They help to shape who we are. And, …

A couple of weeks ago I shared a Cabela’s commercial that I really liked, The Feeling Never Ends.  This Friday I have another one, this one from Orvis: I post these videos not because I am promoting any company, business or product.  But, Cabela’s and Orvis both have some really good stuff and if you are like me, you already have a bunch of it, and find something new to buy at nearly every opportunity. No, I post these videos …