LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners announced on Aug. 30 the temporary closure of all services and vehicle access to 24 state recreation areas (SRA) and five state historical parks (SHP). The purpose of the closures is to redirect Game and Parks staff from the closed areas in an effort to reduce the more than $30 million of identified deferred maintenance needs of an aging Nebraska State Park System and meet compliance with the Americans …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may enter a lottery to gain deer hunting access to Platte River Recreation Access (PRRA) lands in the central Platte River Valley, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Thirty-eight hunters will be chosen from a random drawing in early October and allowed to hunt deer on designated PRRA lands Nov. 16-24. Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted by mail or in person at the Game and Parks service center in Kearney …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for free archery and free food during Families on Target night Aug. 28 from 6-8 p.m. at the Lincoln Archery Park. There will be target, 3-D animal targets and the new aerial archery machine, which allows participants to shoot foam discs out of the sky. The Lincoln Prairie Bowmen Archery Club will serve hot dogs and drinks. Participants may bring their equipment, but loaner equipment will be available. Visit huntsafenebraska.gov …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Wildlife numbers are generally lower compared to a year ago, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s July Rural Mail Carrier Survey. The 2012 drought affected wildlife across the state, exacerbated by habitat loss caused by emergency haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program land in all counties. In general, statewide indices for pheasant, turkey, grouse, cottontail and jackrabbit were lower in 2013 than in 2012. Although some of these species experienced regional increases, overall, the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners will consider the 2013 waterfowl regulations when they meet Aug. 30 in Valentine. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the Niobrara Lodge, 803 E. U.S. Hwy. 30. The recommendations include waterfowl seasons and increases in daily bag limits for teal, canvasbacks, scaup and Canada geese. They also include a change in format of the Light Goose Conservation Order from three zones to two and a change in the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy living history demonstrations Aug. 31-Sept. 2 at Fort Kearny State Historical Park near Kearney. The Labor Day weekend includes re-enactors in a soldiers’ camp, as well as demonstrations of many trades and a 2 p.m. daily cannon firing. A park entry permit is required. For more information, contact the park at 308-865-5305.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offers the following fall park calendar of events, from Labor Day weekend through the end of the year, to help Nebraskans plan trips to state park areas. A park entry permit is required. Arbor Lodge State Historical Park (SHP) – Nebraska City, 402-873-7222; Applejack Festival, Sept. 21-22; Living History Day, Sept. 29, Oct. 6, Oct. 13, Oct. 20 Buffalo Bill Ranch SHP – North Platte, 308-535-8035; Christmas at the Cody’s, Dec. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Volunteers will portray life at an 1820s military post during Living History Weekend at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park Aug. 31-Sept. 1. There will be several hands-on activities for all ages from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bring a picnic lunch, then watch as children learn how to make butter, spin, attend the post school and try their hand in the new archeology room. Period dancers will perform Aug. 31 at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events and important dates in September. Waterfowl season dates were not finalized as of mid-August. Beginning Aug. 31, visit OutdoorNebraska.org for waterfowl season dates. Sept. 1 – Sidewalk Chalk Art, Niobrara SP, Niobrara, 10 a.m., 402-857-3373 Sept. 1 – Final day of horse trail rides and final day swimming pool is open, Niobrara SP, Niobrara, 402-857-3373 Sept. 1 – Hunting seasons open for grouse, raccoon, Virginia …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A Greenwood man is in critical but stable condition in a Lincoln hospital after being pulled from Branched Oak Lake on Aug. 18. James William Lee, 61, remains in the intensive care unit at Bryan LGH Medical Center West, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lee was not wearing a life jacket when he swam from the shore at Area 14 to retrieve his personal watercraft, which had drifted off the beach. He was found …