LINCOLN – Landowners and associations can enhance fishing opportunities in Nebraska by having their private waters stocked with fish. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission must receive stocking applications by Aug. 1. To receive fish, the body of water must meet the following requirements: — No other fish may be present in the body at the time of stocking. — It must be at least one-half surface acre in size. — At least 25 percent of the body must be …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners will consider amendments to youth waterfowl and early teal season regulations when they meet July 11 in Niobrara. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Niobrara State Park group lodge, 89261 522 Ave. The commissioners also will consider: – increasing the cost of some nonresident deer and turkey permits between 3 and 11 percent; – adding language regarding the eligibility of fall youth turkey hunters that would copy …

LINCOLN – The celebration of Independence Day at an 1820s military post will be depicted at Living History Weekend at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP) on July 5-6. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, volunteer interpreters will celebrate in much the same way as the soldiers did 195 years ago. There will be a reading of the Declaration of Independence, as well as firing of a cannon and shoulder arms. Several period trades will be demonstrated, …

LINCOLN – Learn burning techniques and hear success stories in land management at a prescribed burn conference July 14 in Kearney. The event is from 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Holiday Inn. This conference will bring landowners and fire professionals together to discuss the challenges and successes of prescribed burning. There will be presentations on: objectives and monitoring burn strategies, ranchers’ perspective and economics, complex burn layouts, range health, and ecological objective of prescribed burning. The event will …

LINCOLN – A Lincoln man was hospitalized after the personal watercraft he was operating collided with a motorboat on Pawnee Lake in Lancaster County on the evening of June 24. Nicholas Esparza, 18, was taken by Malcolm Fire and Rescue to Bryan LGH Medical Center West in Lincoln. He was treated for a concussion, three broken ribs, pierced lung, and cuts on his face. He is expected to fully recover. At approximately 7:15 p.m., Esparza’s personal watercraft was westbound near …

LINCOLN – Try your hand at shooting steel targets quickly and accurately at the Rimfire Challenge on July 12 at Platte River State Park. This event, which includes instruction followed by competition, starts at 9 a.m. at the Roger G. Sykes Outdoor Heritage Education Complex. This introduction to rimfire steel shooting is about shooting fast, but participants first will learn the fundamentals by being slow and methodical while practicing. Space is limited to the first 20 people ages 12 and …

LINCOLN – Visitors to seven state recreation areas will be allowed to touch off fireworks on Independence Day, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Those visitors should use extra caution with fireworks wherever dry conditions and high fire hazard exist. Branched Oak State Recreation Area (SRA) near Malcolm, Fort Kearny SRA near Kearney, Memphis SRA near Memphis, Fremont SRA near Fremont, Two Rivers SRA near Venice, Pawnee SRA near Emerald and Wagon Train SRA near Hickman will permit …

LINCOLN — Communications professionals, journalists and those who work in the field of natural resources conservation still have time to register for the 2014 Association for Conservation Information conference. This year’s conference will be held July 7-10 at the Lied Lodge and Conference Center in Nebraska City. Hosted this year by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the annual conference will include sessions on marketing to millennials, measuring the impact of social media, the importance of branding, how to manage …

LINCOLN – The Smithsonian “Traveling Museum of Music” program will be featured as part of the holiday weekend of living history at Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park on July 6 at 1 p.m. The program was developed for the Smithsonian Institution based on stories and songs about the music that was popular during every war in which America has been engaged, starting with the Revolutionary War. This free program is sponsored by the Friends of Fort Hartsuff and funded in part …

LINCOLN – The snakes of Nebraska will be displayed and discussed during a workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on July 19-20 at the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium. Dennis Ferraro, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln county extension educator, will display 29 species of snakes found in Nebraska and answer questions about the reptiles. Attending this workshop is a fun way to learn about snake identification, their habitat, and their value to people. In addition, the aquarium is a great place to visit …