LINCOLN, Neb. – As many as 500 archers from around the state are expected to compete in the annual National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP) state tournament March 23 in Lincoln. The event takes place at the Lancaster Event Center, 4100 N. 84th St. The first of two flights of competition begins at 10 a.m. NASP is a national target archery program for students in grades 4-12. More than 200 schools in Nebraska have NASP as part of their …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Take Pride in America Day, a nationwide effort to encourage volunteers to improve parks, lakes and wildlife areas, is scheduled for May 4 at Verdon Lake State Recreation Area (SRA) in Richardson County. Anyone can volunteer for Take Pride in America Day, a partnership established by U.S. Department of the Interior, but those under the age of 19 must have parental permission. Individuals and groups are encouraged to make a one-time volunteer contribution to the parks system. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska spring turkey hunting season opens for archers March 25. Spring turkey hunters must use archery equipment March 25-April 12 and may use either archery equipment or a shotgun April 13-May 31. Youth hunters must use archery equipment March 25-April 5 and may use either archery equipment or a shotgun April 6-May 31. Hunters under age 16 need a youth spring turkey permit, hunters age 16 and older need a spring turkey permit, and landowners need …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Ponca State Park offers a variety of family activities for Easter on March 30. These activities include an Easter egg hunt, wild bird egg/nest craft, wildlife viewing from a blind that may be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and 30-percent discount on lodging. Call the park for reservations at 402-755-2284, and visit the park’s Facebook page for activity updates. A park entry permit is required for each vehicle entering the park.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners tabled big game regulation recommendations at its March 8 meeting in Kearney. Agency staff will make minor amendments to the recommendations for the board to consider at its May 24 meeting in Chadron. The recommendations brought to the commissioners March 8 included a significant reduction of antlerless deer bonus tags in an effort to lower harvest in 2013. That reduction in permits reflects a white-tailed deer population that was …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Make Fort Kearny State Historical Park a destination for enjoying the spring migration this year. Millions of geese and ducks are now using the Platte River Valley, and the first of the estimated 500,000 sandhill cranes are beginning to arrive. The visitor center is now open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. through April 7. Camping is available at Fort Kearny State Recreation Area; the shower building will be open the third week in March. The hike/bike trail …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Platte River Art Show is scheduled for April 6-7 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Many nationally known artists from around the Midwest will be offering their work for display and sale. This event, held at the Peter Kiewit Lodge, runs from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on April 6 and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. the following day. The works of art will include wildlife, landscape, cityscape, portrait, still life, Native American, Southwest, Americana and Impressionist paintings in a …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will conduct prescribed burns of brush piles at the following wildlife management areas (WMA) when weather conditions allow: Flatsedge, Polk County; Medicine Creek Reservoir, Frontier County; Pine Glen, Brown County; and Box Elder, Lincoln County. Brush piles are created by the removal of invading trees in grassland or timber stands, or from trees damaged in recent wildfires. Removal of brush piles will open up grasslands and timber for continued management, eliminate …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will stock catchable-size rainbow trout in several city ponds and lakes across the state this month. The schedule, subject to change depending on conditions, includes date, location, approximate time of stocking, and quantity: March 13 – Niobrara State Park (SP), 11:30 a.m., 750 trout March 14 – CenturyLink Lake, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 2,250; Fort Kearny State Recreation Area (SRA), 600; Windmill SRA No. 2, Gibbon, 300; Holdrege City Park, 1,400; …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy a fun day of activities along the Missouri River at the Outdoor Adventure on April 20 at Indian Cave State Park (SP). Activities include a mushroom hunt, youth horseback rides, hayrack tours and demonstrations of black powder shooting, wood carving, Dutch oven cooking and living history. There also will be exhibits of bats and pelts, an Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium fish display, archery shooting, a Raptor Recovery program and a birding workshop. The Morel Mile and 5K races …