NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – Red Willow State Recreation Area (SRA) will be starting their summer Family Fun Nights on Wednesday, June 13. The free fun nights will be held every other Wednesday, running from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. At 6 p.m. there is a family cookout at the Spring Creek tent camping area near the marina boat ramp followed by kayaking, family fishing, archery, hiking and biking at 7 p.m. Then enjoy s’mores at the campfire at Spring Creek …

Some tricks to know if your tent zipper fails. Tent zippers are key components to tents. They keep wind, rain and bugs out, but when they fail, be prepared with some knowledge and tools to do on-site repairs to your tent. Zippers consist of nylon, plastic or metal teeth or coils and a slider or grab tab pull that brings the teeth or coil tracks together. Many tents come with closed-end zippers, which means the zipper is stitched together at …

North Platte, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) and Tout Bird Club of North Platte will host a birding event on Friday, May 25. All ages are welcome to come learn about birds at Buffalo Bill State Recreation Area (SRA) in North Platte as part of the Nebraska International Migratory Bird Month. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. at the shelter area at the SRA with birding stations to build bird feeders, nesting material and more. …

North Platte, Neb. – In honor of the late Bev Kimball of Kearney, the Fort Kearny Preservation, Restoration and Development (PRD) board is hosting activities at the Fort Kearny Recreation Area from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 19 at Lake 6, which is also free park entry and free fishing day across the state. Bev Kimball raised the funds to buy the 1.8 mile segment of the Burlington Railroad Line in 1977 for Nebraska’s first Rails to …

North Platte, Neb. – Frenchman Wildlife Management Area (WMA) northeast of Palisade, NE has a new access road. Previously, the public was using a bridge that crosses the canal to access the Frenchman WMA but that bridge was condemned and closed a few weeks ago. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has secured a Special Use Permit from the United States Bureau of Reclamation to allow the public to use the road to the east of Hwy 25A to access …

North Platte, Neb. – The Loess Canyon Rangeland Alliance (LCRA) will receive $160,000 from the Nebraska Environmental Trust (NET) for the Grassland Stewardship with Prescribed Fire project. The Trust Board announced funding for the project at its meeting on April 5, 2018 in Lincoln. This is the first year of award with a potential for 2nd year funding totaling $140,000. The project is one of the 105 projects receiving $18,301,819 in grant awards from the NET this year. Of these, …

When I received the call from my co-worker, Justin Haag, about coming to the Panhandle to take photos of the bighorn sheep capture, I was more than ecstatic. I had always wanted to see how this process takes place and get close to the sheep. Along with that, who doesn’t want to travel to one of the most beautiful areas of Nebraska, the wildcat Hills and Pine Ridge. Not knowing what to expect, I went out to watch the crew …

The Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program recently hosted a Beyond BOW ice fishing event at the Valentine Refuge Lakes. With good ice throughout the state it was the perfect time to teach women about the equipment and techniques of ice fishing. During this Beyond BOW, women that wanted to learn how to ice fish or get more insight of the sport signed up to experience something new where they could learn together. Emails of what to bring were sent out …

When heading out on frozen lakes or ponds to ice fish, you won’t want to leave home without these important items. Even in a one-person ice shelter, there is room for essential ice-fishing items that you should never leave home without:  Tip-ups and ice fishing rods/reels  Ice shelter (anything to keep out of the wind)  Propane heater for cold days Spud bar (for checking ice thickness)  Ice auger Sled to carry auger and supplies  Five-gallon bucket to carry …

ver the years, I’ve hunted geese and ducks many places, but some of my fondest memories have been made with family and friends at Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) west of Lake McConaughy. My son shot his first duck from a pit there, our family dogs have retrieved many a bird there, and the laughs and breakfasts in the blinds are icing on the cake. Best of all this area is open to the public. Clear Creek WMA is …