The road to the Hershey Beach boat ramp at Sutherland Reservoir State Recreation Area near Sutherland will be closed until further notice starting Nov. 17 so repairs to the boat ramp may begin. Significant erosion, caused by water and wave action, needs to be addressed before further damage occurs to the ramp. Repairs are expected to take up to two weeks, depending on weather conditions. All other access points at Sutherland Reservoir SRA will remain open. Questions can be directed …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and its partners have received a $4 million grant through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to restore grassland and wetland habitat for at-risk species. A four-year conservation project will take place in the Sandhills and adjacent areas, where wetlands and streams face alteration and channelization. Grasslands also are being encroached by eastern redcedar, which can reduce the available forage for livestock, increase wildfire risk, reduce stream flow, and degrade wildlife habitat. A voluntary, …

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in December. Here are some opportunities: Little Saplings early childhood program presents Winter Woodpeckers Adults looking to explore the outdoors with their young children are invited to Little Saplings, a monthly early childhood nature discovery program at Schramm Education Center near Gretna. The 2022 series concludes Dec. 7 with the theme Winter Woodpeckers at 9 a.m. It is designed for children ages 2-5 and their …

Updated 11-10-22 Yankee Hill Wildlife Management Area’s boat launch access will reopen Nov. 10 after several improvements were completed. Improvements include: erosion under the boat ramp has been repaired and rock riprap has been placed along both sides of it to prevent future erosion from occurring, rock riprap was added to the sides of each breakwater near the boat ramp, rock was added to the walking surface of each breakwater, concrete repairs were made to the restroom, a vegetation barrier …

Enjoy family-friendly Omaha magician Ryan Chandler as he performs at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park on Nov. 26 for the first of several dates. Chandler, who has appeared on television with magicians Penn and Teller, will perform at 3 p.m. at Kountze Memorial Theater. Other performances will be (all begin at 3 p.m. unless otherwise noted): Dec. 17; Dec. 31; Jan. 1, 5 p.m.; Jan. 14; Jan. 21; Feb. 11; Feb. 18; Feb. 25; March 11; March 18; March 25; …

Hunters are reminded they may donate harvested deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program at seven processor locations in Nebraska. The participating meat processors are: Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats Norfolk – R&M Meats North Platte – Kelley’s Custom Pack Table Rock – Den’s Country Meats Franklin – Franklin Locker Ulysses – The Butchery Lindsay – Melcher’s Locker Hunters pay no processing costs for deer donated to processors for this  program. But they should call the processor before hunting …

Hunters returned to rural Nebraska the weekend of Oct. 29 for the 2022 upland bird hunting season opener and found variable success. Based on field reports from Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff and law enforcement, pheasant hunters had the greatest success in parts of northeast and south-central Nebraska, including the Rainwater Basin. Many hunters also found good numbers of quail, especially throughout their core range in south-central and southeastern Nebraska. In Nebraska’s traditional pheasant strongholds, including the southwest and …

Try to solve a mystery by participating in the Fort Atkinson Candlelight Tour – The Demise of Lt. Gabriel Field on Nov. 5. Lt. Field was a former soldier who was injured outside the fort, then rescued and returned to the fort. A guide will lead visitors on a 90-minute walking tour from room to room in the fort, where reenactors will portray events that would have taken place. By only communicating with the guide, visitors will try to learn …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved a five-year plan to recruit, retain and reactivate outdoor enthusiasts at its Oct. 21 meeting in Broken Bow. This 2023-2027 Recruitment, Retention and Reactivation Plan provides goals, objectives and strategies to help Game and Parks engage outdoor participants in outdoor opportunities. The plan is focused on boating, fishing, hunting, parks, and shooting sports, as well as on maintaining widespread support for conservation and recreation. At the meeting in the Broken Bow Public Library, …

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in November. Here are some opportunities: Little Saplings early childhood program presents Look at Leaves Adults looking to explore the outdoors with their young children are invited to Little Saplings, a monthly early childhood nature discovery program at Schramm Education Center near Gretna. The series, which continues Nov. 2 with the theme Look at Leaves, is at 9 a.m. the first Wednesday of each month, …