LINCOLN – Southeast Community College’s family Fishing Fundamentals course has been cancelled in Auburn, York, Plattsmouth and Nebraska City; however, the Lincoln classes remain on the schedule. The college is offering the course to provide anglers with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to begin fishing. The Lincoln class will meet Tuesdays in April from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Jack J. Huck Continuing Education Center, 301 S. 68th St. Place. The course includes three classroom sessions and a guided …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting archery paddlefish permit applications through April 14 for the July 11-Aug. 9 season. Archery paddlefish permits are issued using a preference system. An applicant will receive a point if he or she is unsuccessful in being awarded a permit. Any person who does not apply at least once during five consecutive years will lose all accumulated points. Permits remaining following the first drawing will be sold on a first-come basis …

LINCOLN – The entire population of whooping cranes in the Central Flyway is expected to migrate through Nebraska over the next several weeks. Conservation entities encourage the public to report whooping crane sightings. Information on sightings is used individually and collectively by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Crane Trust and the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program to positively affect whooping crane conservation and recovery efforts. Individuals should report whooping crane sightings by contacting Game …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is in the midst of surveying hunters about their harvest success and hunting preferences. All hunters who received surveys are urged to complete and return them to Game and Parks. The survey process allows Game and Parks biologists to collect data about the number and location of animals harvested in Nebraska, as well as hunter satisfaction. This information, combined with data from species surveys and other research, allows Game and Parks staff …

LINCOLN – Cast a vote for Nebraska as one of America’s Top Family Fishing and Boating Spots and become eligible to win a Florida family vacation. The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation seeks to identify the top 100 family-friendly parks for fishing and boating. Vote for Lake Wanahoo State Recreation Area (SRA), Lake McConaughy SRA, Harlan County Reservoir, Holmes Lake, Summit Reservoir SRA or Two Rivers SRA as your favorite place in Nebraska to enjoy a day of fishing or …

LINCOLN – Joseph Brinkhoff of Mater Dei Academy in Omaha had the day’s high score of 288 points in the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament in Lincoln on March 28. Jemma Farabee of the Expect the X Homeschool Association in Lincoln had the girls’ high score of 284. Expect the X had the overall high team score of 3,293 points. The state’s largest archery event, which took place at the Lancaster Event Center, included a record …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission made changes to the 2015 big game regulations March 20 at a meeting in Lexington. Most significant of the big game changes is an increase in the River Antlerless Unit deer permit quota from 7,000 to 12,000. This is expected to maintain hunting pressure on white-tailed deer in prime habitat on private land, where high deer herd numbers can develop the fastest. The permit allows for the harvest of two antlerless white-tailed …

LINCOLN – Northeast Nebraska’s Niobrara State Park will become an outdoor classroom May 8 at the fourth annual Outdoor Educational Rendezvous at Niobrara State Park. From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., school students, teachers, home-school families, parents and guardians will get an outdoor education from 40 master naturalist programs and activities such as fishing, archery, tomahawk throwing, Native American culture, mountain man programs, horseback riding, taxidermy and raptor release. Ecologists Jasmine Cutter and Dillon Blankenship will present the program “Prairies are All …

LINCOLN – A public informational meeting will be held in Valentine on March 26 to discuss several planned improvements for fishing, boating and angler access in the area. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host the meeting at the Niobrara Lodge, 803 E. U.S. Highway 20, from 7-9 p.m. A presentation on the projects will be followed by a question-and-answer session. A summary of the projects to be discussed: Valentine National Wildlife Refuge …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider changes to big game regulations March 20 at a meeting in Lexington. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Express, 2605 Plum Creek Parkway. The public is invited. Most significant of the recommended big game amendments is an increase in the River Antlerless Unit deer permit quota from 7,000 to 12,000. If adopted, this is expected to maintain hunting pressure on white-tailed deer in prime habitat on …