LINCOLN – Nebraska pheasant hunting opportunities in 2015 should be better than last year, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Upland Game Hunting Outlook. Mild winter conditions and timely spring rains have resulted in increases in pheasant abundance statewide. Spring rains also resulted in abundant cover, with Game and Parks staff reporting excellent habitat conditions across the state. The outlook is based on spring and summer upland game surveys, and conditions reported by biologists. Regional weather events that …

LINCOLN – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in September: Sept. 1 – Hunting seasons open for cottontail, jackrabbit, dove, snipe, grouse, rail, raccoon and opossum Sept. 1 – Archery, Season Choice, River Antlerless, Statewide Whitetail Buck, Gifford Point Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Youth, and Landowner deer hunting seasons open Sept. 1, 15 – Ladies Day at the Range, Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center, Lincoln, 6:30-8 p.m., 402-471-5662 Sept. …

LINCOLN – Public access to hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities in Nebraska received a boost on Aug. 17 with the announcement that the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has received a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Funding from this three-year, $1.35 million Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program (VPA-HIP) grant will be used to improve and expand the Open Fields and Waters (OFW) Program. “NRCS has been a valued partner of …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will return to the Nebraska Building for the 2015 Nebraska State Fair with a full schedule of activities for the whole family. Popular features and activities including an indoor archery range, indoor air gun range, kids’ Nerf gun range, 6,000-gallon aquarium featuring Nebraska fish, indoor meandering stream, outdoor playground, kids’ games, demonstrations and more will be back in 2015. New this year is a second meandering stream, which has been added outside …

LINCOLN – The public is invited to an open house to see the new aquatic habitat and fishing access improvements at Burchard Lake. The event is set for Aug. 21 from 5-7 p.m. at Burchard Wildlife Management Area (WMA). The event will be held at the boat ramp on the north side of the lake. Staff from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will be on hand to answer questions. Families are invited to bring their fishing poles, but some …

LINCOLN – A health alert has been extended for Willow Creek Lake in Pierce County after high levels of blue-green algae were detected at the lake earlier this week. High levels of the algae were first detected last week, and a health alert was implemented at the lake. The health alert will remain in effect for at least two weeks. It is recommended that visitors to the lake, located on Willow Creek State Recreation Area, avoid full body contact activities …

LINCOLN – The public is invited to attend the Johnson Lake Angler Access Project Dedication on Aug. 15 at the Gosper County lake’s inlet. The dedication ceremony is set for 11 a.m. A family fishing clinic will take place from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. The project was initiated by Nebraska Game and Parks Commissioner Lynn Berggren of Broken Bow and completed in memory of his father, Myron Berggren, and his uncle, Oliver Berggren. The project, completed in May, includes the following …

LINCOLN – Summer hours have been extended through this week at the Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Complex at Platte River State Park (SP). This week, the facility will be open Tuesday and Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Beginning Aug. 15 and running through Oct. 10, the range will be open on weekends only from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. The following are special events and openings, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., in coming months: Oct. …

LINCOLN – Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park will host the summer celebration Rally ’Round the Flag, Boys! on Aug. 22-23 to commemorate the re-dedication of the newly painted Post flagpole. The flagpole re-dedication will take place at noon on Aug. 22. There will be a flag-raising ceremony and other activities, including a barbeque and watermelon feed from 1-2:30 p.m., horse-drawn wagon rides, Civil War re-enactors, blacksmith demonstrations, music by the Fun Bunch at 2 p.m., and 1860s-style of military training …

LINCOLN – A health alert has been issued for Willow Creek Lake in Pierce County because high levels of blue-green algae were detected at the lake earlier this week. It is recommended that visitors to the lake, located on Willow Creek State Recreation Area (SRA), avoid full-body contact activities such as swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing. Non-contact activities such as boating, fishing and camping are not affected by the alert. A limited number of vouchers to the swimming pool …