LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in December. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. Dec. 1 – Bobcat hunting and trapping season opens Dec. 1-3, 8-10, 15-17, 22-23 – Christmas at the Mansion, Arbor Lodge State Historical Park (SHP), Nebraska City Dec. 1-31 – Cow elk hunting season, private and public land Dec. 1-31 – …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters they must first gain permission before hunting on private property. GPS mapping applications are a popular tool with many hunters. These apps may show some properties as public lands, such as the School Trust Lands held by the State of Nebraska. However, these school trust lands are leased by the Nebraska Board of Education Lands and Funds to private individuals and require permission to access them for hunting. Nebraska …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Celebrate the holiday season at Ponca State Park, where families can enjoy the weekly seasonal activities of Christmas in the Woods. Christmas in the Woods, which takes place Nov. 25, Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16, is a chance for families to do seasonal crafts, get a family photo taken, decorate a cookie or cupcake, attend an outdoor program, or ride on a decorated and lighted hayrack. In addition, the park is holding its annual Snowman …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for a fun day of free archery Dec. 2 at Archery on Fire at Platte River State Park. All ages and experience levels are welcome for this event, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex. Equipment and instruction will be provided. Archery, 3-D archery, crossbows and tomahawk throwing will be available. There also will be campground games, kids’ crafts and a …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will release rooster pheasants at 14 wildlife management areas in time for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. The 14 areas are: Oak Valley (Madison County), Wilkinson (Platte County), Sherman Reservoir (Sherman County), Pressey (Custer County), Branched Oak (Lancaster County), Yankee Hill (Lancaster County), Twin Oaks (Johnson County), Hickory Ridge (Johnson County), Cornhusker (Hall County), Peru Bottoms (Nemaha County), Kirkpatrick Basin North (York County), Schilling (Cass County), Arrowhead (Gage County), and George Syas …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A Gretna man was hospitalized with apparent pelvic injuries after falling from a tree stand Nov. 14 while hunting in Dixon County northeast of Obert. Todd M. Church, 44, had just climbed into a hang-on tree stand at approximately 3:15 p.m. when one of the ratchet straps failed, causing the stand platform to drop down. He fell approximately 17 feet. Church, who was able to make a cell phone call to another hunter in the area, was …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The opening two days of the Nebraska’s firearm deer season started strong, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The season opened Nov. 11. “Final harvest numbers are still being calculated, but hunters got off to a great start this weekend,” said Karie Decker, Game and Parks’ assistant wildlife division administrator. Despite rainy conditions across much of the state on Saturday (Nov. 11), Game and Parks staff saw successful hunters and high youth participation. “Many check …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska has joined the Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact, which is an agreement that recognizes the suspension of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses in states that are members of the compact. Any person whose license privileges or rights are suspended in any compact member state may also be suspended in all other member states. Nebraska became the 46th compact member state in 2017. Suspensions on or after Nov. 7, 2017 are subject to the compact. Nebraska’s participation in …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Angler Access Area in the northwest corner of Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area (SRA) will be closed to the public briefly in mid-November. The area will close on Nov. 13 so a new floating fishing dock can be installed. The construction is expected to be completed by Nov. 17. All other areas of the SRA will be open during installation of the dock.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Jeff Fassett, director of the Nebraska Department of Natural Resources, on Oct. 19 signed an order granting application A-19406 to appropriate water for the purpose of instream flows on the Niobrara River to maintain habitat for the fish community. The instream flow permit was granted to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District (NRD), the Middle Niobrara NRD, the Lower Niobrara NRD, the Upper Loup NRD and the Upper Elkhorn NRD …