LINCOLN, Neb. – The indoor ranges (firearm and archery) at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln will be closed to the public on March 25, as staff will be at the state National Archery in the Schools tournament. The outdoor archery range will be open from sunrise to sunset, as usual. In addition, the center’s indoor archery range will be closed to public on March 18 until 4 p.m. for a tournament. The firearm range and …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct prescribed burns at several state-owned areas to improve grassland and promote wildlife habitat. Prescribed burning stimulates the growth of desirable grasses and forbs and suppresses invasive tree and brush species. Removing residual grass and trees, especially cedars, also will reduce the fire hazard on these areas. Burns are scheduled, as weather conditions permit, for the following areas, listed by county. All areas are wildlife management areas, unless otherwise noted: …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Early spring is a great time to fish for northern pike, and Nebraska offers several great places to do so, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Northern pike are best suited for colder environments; they are one of the first species to spawn in the spring. Spawning is currently underway, which means pike are coming up into the shallows to spawn on rooted vegetation. During and immediately after spawning, pike can be easily caught by …

LINCOLN, Neb. – White-nose syndrome (WNS), a fungal disease that affects hibernating bats, has been confirmed in Nebraska. The disease was confirmed after several dozen dead bats were discovered during a recent survey of a mine in Cass County. The U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, confirmed the disease in three bats from the mine – a little brown bat, a northern long-eared bat and a tri-colored bat. Nebraska is the 30th state to confirm the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The entire population of whooping cranes in the Central Flyway is expected to migrate through Nebraska over the next several weeks. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission encourages the public to report whooping crane sightings. Information on crane sightings is used to affect whooping crane conservation and recovery efforts positively. Report any sightings to Game and Parks (402-471-0641), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (308-379-5562), or The Crane Trust’s Whooper Watch hotline (1-888-399-2824). Emails may be submitted to …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Come out to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park with the family and enjoy live theater. Now through April 9, the lively comedy “Always a Bridesmaid” is showing at the Kountze Memorial Theater. In this comedic romp produced by Medicine Wagon Productions, four best friends promise on prom night to be in each other’s weddings no matter what. More than 30 years later, these Southern friends-for-life are still making “the long walk” for each other, determined to honor …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Numbers of sandhill cranes on the Central Platte River during the spring migration typically peak in the third week of March. That seems to be changing. Close to 195,000 cranes are on the Central Platte as of Feb. 27, according to an aerial survey by the Crane Trust. That figure was around 66,000 just a week ago. Numbers should continue to build with continuing mild weather and viewing should be favorable going forward. The aerial survey detected …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Dean Rosenthal has been selected as the fisheries division administrator for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Rosenthal, a nearly 40-year veteran of the Commission, has been acting fisheries administrator since 2016. The fisheries division administrator oversees the Commission’s aquatic resources and conservation programs. “Dean’s extensive experience is an incredible asset,” Commission Director Jim Douglas said. “The good working relationships he has developed with other state fish and wildlife agencies over the years has opened doors to …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) events and important dates in March. Get more event details at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and boating safety classes. March 3 – Hiking Marathon Challenge, Ponca State Park (SP), Ponca March 3, 10, 17 – Beginner Muzzleloader Class, Wildcat Hills Shooting Sports Complex, Gering March 3-April 9 – Sandhill crane migration viewing, Fort Kearny State Historical Park, Kearney March …

LINCOLN, Neb. — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission received the Land Stewardship Award from the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) on Feb. 16 during the 41st annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tenn. The award was presented to the Commission for promoting responsible forest management, wood procurement and manufacturing practices for the benefit of the nation’s forests, wildlife and people. The Commission and the NWTF have a long history of partnering to enhance wildlife habitats across Nebraska. …