LINCOLN – Children not exposed to hunting at a young age most likely won’t pursue that activity as an adult. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wants to make hunting affordable to any interested youth through its $5 youth permit program. For $5, hunters ages 15 and under can buy turkey or deer permits in Nebraska, regardless of residency. Hunters ages 10-15 may apply for up to two youth deer permits at $5 each. Youth may buy up to three …

LINCOLN – The indoor archery and outdoor field course ranges at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln will be closed to the public Oct. 12 for an archery tournament. The indoor firearm and outdoor target ranges will remain open. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Archery Club will host a fundraising public archery tournament that day. The tournament will include outdoor 3-D, indoor target and other events. Archery equipment will be provided for those who do not bring …

LINCOLN – The scheduled rainbow trout stocking of the Harlan County Dam stilling basin has been canceled because of the uncertainty of water releases from the lake. The trout stocking was scheduled for Oct. 16, assuming no water was to be released from the lake this fall. However, plans apparently call for a release of water to take place. This would cause the trout to be flushed down the river and not allow them to be harvested by anglers. For …

LINCOLN – Youth ages 15 and younger are encouraged to participate in special youth pheasant hunts during the Oct. 18-19 statewide youth pheasant, quail and partridge season. Rooster pheasants will be released at nine wildlife management areas before the special youth hunt season. The special hunts are open to the public, and the number of participants is not limited. No registration or special permit is required. Special regulations posted at each of the nine WMAs will apply to all portions …

LINCOLN – Lakes in Seward and Broken Bow have been added to the list of sites that will host Trout Family Fishing events across Nebraska in October. These events are perfect for families and inexperienced anglers who want to learn more about fishing. Each body of water will be stocked with catchable-size trout before the event. Loaner fishing equipment, bait and instruction will be available. The Trout Family Fishing schedule is as follows (times are 4:30-6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted): …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering special antlerless deer hunting opportunities within Eugene T. Mahoney and Platte River state parks (SP), as well as Schramm Park State Recreation Area (SRA). Successful applicants will be issued a special access permit that allows them to hunt antlerless deer in designated areas of a park on certain dates, using specific equipment. Successful applicants and interested alternates must attend an orientation session in order to receive the access permit. Applications, …

LINCOLN – Enjoy autumn in the outdoors by celebrating Halloween at Nebraska’s state parks. Pre-Halloween activities for all ages will take place at seven park areas. The activities, by park, are: Alexandria State Recreation Area (SRA) – Go trick-or-treating at the campground decorated for Halloween at 6 p.m. on Oct. 18-19 at this park. Call 402-729-5777 for more information. Arbor Lodge State Historical Park (SHP) – Enjoy Halloween’s Enchanted Garden, an annual event by the Friends of Arbor Lodge Foundation, …

LINCOLN – Prepare for the upcoming firearm deer seasons by attending one of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s two deer hunting workshops this month. The free workshops will be held Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln and Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chalco Hills Natural Resources Center in Omaha. Both workshops are open to anyone interested in deer hunting, regardless of skill level. Game and Parks specialists …

LINCOLN – A 157-pound male mountain lion was harvested on the evening of Oct. 5 in Knox County near Lewis and Clark Lake. This is the first mountain lion harvested in the Prairie Unit, which has been open since Jan. 1. Mountain lion hunting is open in the Prairie Unit until the end of the year. All other mountain lion units are closed at this time. For more information about mountain lions in Nebraska, visit the Nebraska Game and Parks …

LINCOLN – Recent rains have created very favorable wetland conditions in much of the Rainwater Basin as duck hunting season approaches. Ted LaGrange, wetland program manager for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, said water conditions are mostly good to excellent in the south-central Nebraska wetlands east of U.S. Highway 281. “Most of those wetlands filled with water due to above normal rainfall in late August and in September,” LaGrange said. “Generally, the portion of the Rainwater Basin west of …