LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunting often is a family tradition. It is for Riley Pollock. He began waterfowl hunting at a young age with his grandfather. The 21-year-old from Seward was hunting with family while participating in the second year of the Nebraska Duck Slam this past season. He completed the challenge by harvesting an American wigeon, mallard, northern pintail and a teal in Nebraska during the 2020-2021 season. Everyone who completed the Slam also received a pin and a certificate, …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The third year of the Nebraska Upland Slam gave more than 300 hunters a reason to take advantage of the state’s excellent mixed-bag hunting opportunities. The Nebraska Upland Slam, a partnership between the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever of Nebraska, challenged hunters to harvest all four of Nebraska’s primary upland game bird species – ring-necked pheasant, northern bobwhite quail, sharp-tailed grouse, and greater prairie-chicken – during a single hunting season. This …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Boating prospects in northeast Nebraska are looking up with the completion of two state park area projects in 2020. The completion of a second boat ramp at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area’s Weigand Marina will alleviate long lines of boats waiting to put in or take out. The marina at the state’s second-largest lake has had two boat ramps, but this past season, one ramp has been out of service. The $390,000 project is funded by Capital …

LINCOLN, Neb. – A newly designed 2021 Fishing Guide makes it easier for anglers to find regulations specific to a water body and for new anglers to identify their catch. The recently released guide, published by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is a summary of Nebraska’s regulations, orders and statutes pertaining to fishing. Regulation changes for 2021 can be found on page 7 of the guide. Three main changes to the guide from the previous year include: • new …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Students can show off their art and writing skills by participating in the second annual Nebraska Fish Art Contest. The deadline for this contest for youth in kindergarten through 12th grade is March 31, 2021. Enter at statefishart.org. This free art and writing competition, sponsored by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Wildlife Forever and Bass Pro Shops, gives young people the opportunity to highlight their artistic talents while learning about fish, fishing and aquatic conservation. Participants …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission in a virtual discussion on fisheries management during meetings March 1-4. These public informational sessions – one statewide overview and four others specific to each of Game and Parks’ districts – will provide local updates on the fishing outlook and special projects in respective areas. The informal, interactive gatherings will provide a chance for questions, dialogue and feedback. The virtual meetings will take place on Zoom, a free app that …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Visitors to Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala state recreation areas in 2021 will continue to see improvements to infrastructure, amenities, facilities and accessibility around the two popular reservoirs. Projects the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has scheduled for construction in 2021 are: • A large boating access project at Martin Bay and Cedar View has begun and will include improvements, such as new boat ramps and docks, accessible parking, a fish-cleaning station, restrooms and area lighting. The …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission on Feb. 17 in its series of virtual Conservation Career Chats. Zoologist Shaun Dunn will discuss his duty of keeping track of Nebraska’s nongame mammals, insects, reptiles and amphibians. Dunn also will discuss his career path, education and fun experiences he has had working to conserve species in Nebraska that have declining populations. Participants are encouraged to ask questions relating to the career field. The series is held via Zoom …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Educators interested in incorporating monarch butterflies into their teaching are invited to a free virtual workshop March 16 and 23. During the Monarchs on a Mission workshop, participants will explore the life cycle, migration, habitat requirements and conservation concerns of the monarch butterfly. The workshop incorporates inquiry-based, hands-on activities covering subjects such as math, science, art and language arts. The workshop, which will be held from 6-8 p.m. Central time, is designed for after-school groups and formal …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Learn about invasive species during a five-part virtual webinar series during National Invasive Species Awareness Week Feb. 22-26. The series, hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Nebraska Invasive Species Program through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, will focus on a different topic each day. The webinar schedule is: Feb. 22 – Invasive Species 101, Feb. 23 – Invasive Plants, Feb. 24 – Invasive Wildlife, Feb. 25 – Invasive Aquatic Species, Feb. 26 – Invasive …