LINCOLN – Jake Cockle of Plattsmouth won the inaugural Director’s Cup Archery Tournament on June 5 at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center. The 33 youth and competitive archers in five divisions shot arrows from varying distances. The winners of each division then competed in a Robin Hood shoot-off in which each archer shot one arrow at a small target to determine the Cup winner. The event was sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Nebraska Game …

LINCOLN – Become a citizen scientist and help professionals learn more about two Nebraska butterfly species in decline – the monarch and the regal fritillary. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking help from the public in two surveys to measure the abundance and range of these butterflies in Nebraska. More information on these surveys, as well as instructions on how to participate, are available on our website at OutdoorNebraska.org/ButterflySurvey. The Commission will host survey training at Nine Mile …

LINCOLN – A health advisory is in effect at Pawnee Lake in Lancaster County. During testing earlier this week, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality detected elevated levels of toxic blue-green algae at the lake. Visitors to Pawnee State Recreation Area should avoid full body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing, jet skiing, etc. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are OK. The lake will be tested weekly through the summer months, and the health advisory will …

LINCOLN – Throughout June, Niobrara State Park will hold a variety of family-friendly events for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages. Scheduled events are: • June 11, National Park Service Special Event: Children will participate in interactive activities at an educational trailer. • June 17, National Park Service presents “Life on the Missouri:” Learn more about the historic people and river craft of North America’s longest river. • June 18, Buffalo Cookout: The meal will be served at 6 p.m. at …

LINCOLN – Voters have selected two Nebraska lakes to a list of 100 family-friendly boating and fishing lakes in the nation. The following Nebraska lakes made the annual top 100 list, which is compiled annually by the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation (RBFF): Lake McConaughy State Recreation Area (SRA), No. 59; and Harlan County Reservoir, No. 94. “Lake McConaughy is located in western Nebraska at the edge of the beautiful Sandhills, which provide Lake Mac with more than 75 miles …

LINCOLN – Recreational users of the Missouri River now have an interactive guide available to aid them in navigation and planning outdoor adventures – the Missouri River Outdoor Recreation Access Guide. The river and lands open to public access on its banks offer excellent fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing and kayaking and other activities. This guide shows approximately 160 public access sites for those activities along the Missouri as it flows downstream along Nebraska’s border. This guide also was designed as …

LINCOLN – Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed two proclamations underscoring the importance of nature and the outdoors to Nebraskans during a morning ceremony at the Nebraska State Capitol on June 1. Ricketts declared June Great Outdoors Month. Additionally, he declared June 20 through 26 Nebraska Pollinator Week. Outdoor recreation promotes good health and helps Nebraskans connect with nature on a personal level. Nebraska’s state park areas offer families and individuals opportunities, to hike, bike, camp, boat, swim, canoe, kayak and …

LINCOLN – Anglers of all ages interested in learning all aspects of carp fishing are invited to attend Carp-O-Rama on June 18 at Branched Oak State Recreation Area (SRA). This free event will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lieber’s Point. Carp caught by anglers will be used in demonstrations on cleaning, preparing and cooking the fish. The cooked fish then will be served as a free lunch. Other activities include fish printing and Dutch oven cooking demonstrations. …

LINCOLN – Residents and nonresidents may apply for one 2016 Nebraska deer permit in any draw unit beginning June 13, and residents may apply for one elk permit and one buck or either-sex antelope permit in available units. The application period begins at 1 p.m. Central Time (CT) on June 13. In-person paper applications must be received by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission by 5 p.m. CT – or by 11:59 p.m. for online applications – on June 24. …

LINCOLN – Get outdoors and celebrate National Trails Day on June 4 in Nebraska’s state parks. Activities will be held in three state park areas to commemorate the day. Ash Hollow State Historical Park (SHP) – Meet at the Ash Hollow Visitor Center at 9 a.m. for a 3-mile hike through the park along the Oregon-California Trail. The park superintendent will lead the hike and talk about the history of the trail. The park is located 3 miles south of …