LINCOLN, Neb. – Panhandle anglers have a quality bullhead fishery in Crescent Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries biologists recently conducted a fish survey at the lake and collected “several hundred bullheads per frame net,” according to northwest district biologist Joe Rydell. “We weren’t expecting quite so many.” Rydell said most of the bullheads surveyed were 6 to 7 inches in length but one or two out of every 100 were 13 inches or longer. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Two campgrounds at Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area will close temporarily to allow construction crews to complete upgrades to campground amenities. Lone Eagle Campground, located between Arthur Bay and Sandy Beach, will be closed March 31 until approximately early May. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission received a $740,000 appropriation from the 2013 Nebraska legislature to upgrade all 84 camping sites at Lone Eagle to full service accommodations. An electrical system upgrade and accessibility upgrade were completed …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Caleb Becker of the Expect the X homeschool team of Lincoln set a state record high score in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament on March 25 at Speedway Sporting Village in Lincoln. Becker scored 292 out of a possible 300 points for the overall high score of the meet. Colleen Cerise of Omaha’s Mater Dei Academy had the high female score of 281. In team competition, Lincoln’s Pound Middle School scored 3,114 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Bring the entire family to Ponca State Park on April 1 for a day of crafts, critters and archery. Learn the various forms of décor that can be made with clay at 9:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., discover the different types of wildlife that live along the Missouri River. Participants will be able to see, touch and smell live animals, furs, feathers, shells and skulls. Visit the Eric Wiebe Shooting Complex at 2 p.m. for an introductory …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Homestead Knolls campground at Calamus State Recreation Area (SRA) near Burwell is getting an electrical upgrade. Power to the campground will be shut off March 27-31, weather permitting, to accommodate the project. Contractors will install 47 new 50-amp pedestals and new wiring. This addition will complete the electrical upgrade of the campground, which will have 83 pad sites with 50/30 amp service. A park entry permit is required of each vehicle entering Calamus SRA.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) events and important dates in April. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. April 1 – Youth Fishing Instructor Certification Class, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln April 1-2 – Platte River Art Show, Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP), Ashland April 1-9 – Sandhill crane migration viewing, Fort Kearny State …

LINCOLN, Neb. – With nearly 450 lakes and streams open to public fishing, deciding where to fish in Nebraska can sometimes be challenging. Daryl Bauer, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission fisheries outreach program manager, has provided some useful tips for anglers on the agency’s website. A page on Game and Parks’ website lists the best waters to fish for specific species in 2017. It includes walleye, white bass, wiper, bluegill, crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, redear sunfish, smallmouth bass, blue …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is hoping to raise awareness for the state’s reptile species by encouraging all citizens to vote for a state reptile. Nebraska’s state symbols include western meadowlark, white-tailed deer, goldenrod, honeybee and cottonwood. The state lacks a designated state reptile, however. Nebraska is home to 48 species of reptiles, including snakes, turtles and lizards. That list has been narrowed to six species: ornate box turtle, common snapping turtle, bullsnake, western hognose snake, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s 2016 fall turkey hunters are encouraged to share their experiences with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission via a survey. Hunters who provided an email address at the time they purchased a permit will soon receive an email invitation to participate in the survey. Those who did not provide an email address can take the survey at Game and Parks’ website. The survey will ask hunters about their turkey harvest, as well as about their hunting …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved 2017-18 waterfowl season dates during a March 17 meeting in Grand Island. The Commission adopted waterfowl season orders that include opening the early teal season on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend – a week earlier than staff had proposed and the same as the 2016 teal season – as well as discontinuing the Public Nuisance and Health Hazard Order for crows in Buffalo, Dawson, Franklin, Harlan, Kearney, Lincoln and …