LINCOLN – The Winterfest Olympics are coming to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park (SP). On Saturday Jan. 4 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., park staff will guide youth through outdoor activities including archery, slingshot shooting, fishing, sled-racing and more. The seven activities, which are geared toward children between 5 and 10 years old, are free and open to the public. Participants will receive medals upon completion of all seven activities. Also on Jan. 4 at 1 p.m., Mahoney SP …

LINCOLN – A mountain lion was unintentionally killed in a cable restraint trap in Sioux County on Dec. 20, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The mountain lion was a subadult female weighing approximately 85 pounds that appeared to be in good health. The trapper called Game and Parks immediately upon discovering the mountain lion, as required by Game and Parks policy. High pelt prices have led to an increased effort to trap bobcats and other furbearers, which …

LINCOLN – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in January: Jan. 1 – First segment of light goose hunting season closes Jan. 1 – First Day Hike, Ponca State Park (SP), Ponca, 402-755-2284 Jan. 1 – Mountain lion hunting opens in Pine Ridge Unit Season 1 and Prairie Unit Jan. 4 – Duck and coot hunting seasons close in Zone 3, Low Plains Unit Jan. 4 – Winterfest Olympics, Eugene T. …

LINCOLN – Learn the basics of ice fishing or pick up a few new tips on Saturday, Jan. 11 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host Discover Ice Fishing from 1-4 p.m. at the park’s CenturyLink Pond. Families and ice anglers of all skill levels will receive guidance on techniques, equipment, bait and safety. Hot cocoa will be served. A park entry permit is required. All fishing regulations apply. Loaner equipment will be …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is accepting donations of new or used hunting clothing and gear to be used in the mentored youth hunting program. Each year hundreds of youth, many of them first-time hunters, take part in the mentored hunts across Nebraska. However, many of them don’t have access to the appropriate clothing and gear. Game and Parks seeks camouflaged and blaze orange hunting gear to be loaned out to those participants. Items that Game and …

LINCOLN – A full day of Winterfest activities are scheduled at Ponca State Park on Dec. 28. The annual Fruitcake Fling, as seen on NBC’s Today Show last year, begins at noon. Toss bird-friendly fruitcakes for distance and try to win a prize. The family-friendly Quest for the Yule Log contest begins at 1:30 p.m. It includes a series of challenges and clues leading to the hidden Yule Log. Once found, the log will be cut and a piece will …

LINCOLN – Gov. Dave Heineman today announced the appointment of Dick Bell of Omaha to the Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners. Bell will represent District 2, which encompasses Douglas County. The appointment fills a vacancy created by the passing of long-time Commissioner Ron Stave of Omaha. Bell will serve the remainder of the term on the nine-person board through January 2016. “I am honored to serve as a Commissioner for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission,” Bell said. …

LINCOLN – Make a gingerbread house, take a holiday hayrack ride or search for the yule log at Platte River State Park (SP) this weekend. Platte River SP will offer a variety of traditional holiday activities on Saturday, Dec. 21, beginning at 10 a.m. From then until 4 p.m., families are invited to make gingerbread houses, birdhouses, Christmas cards and holiday ornaments. Santa will make an appearance from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. At 4 p.m., teams of three or …

LINCOLN – The number of recorded active bald eagle nests in Nebraska held more or less steady from 2012 to 2013, dropping by just one nest. In 2013, 102 active nests were recorded in Nebraska, down from 103 the year before. The flat numbers came as a surprise to those who track the state’s bald eagle population – the number of active bald eagle nests has increased each year since 1991 when the first active nest in a century was …

LINCOLN – Employees of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will begin burning slash piles at Chadron State Park (SP) and Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area (SRA) beginning Dec. 16. The slash piles at Chadron SP were created throughout 2013, as crews cleaned up trees burned during the 2012 wildfires there. The slash piles at Wildcat Hills SRA were created during forest management projects in 2009. Crews will burn the slash piles as weather permits through April 30. The burns …