Education

We officially welcomed summer on June 21st, so instead of rifles, shotguns, bows, and wild game, most folks are probably thinking about baseball, swimming, barbeques and mowing the lawn.  But “now” is the time to start thinking about the various options available for completing hunter education so you’ll be ready for hunting season this coming fall. Hunter education has come a long way since 1974, when it became mandatory in the state of Nebraska. Today’s hunter education for both firearm …

Camping trips are some of the most rewarding experiences and times spent in the great outdoors with family and friends. It is hard to pin point what the best part of camping really is. Is it the roaring campfire you find yourself gathered around to toast that perfect golden marshmallow for your s’more? Maybe, it is the serenity felt beneath the starry night sky? Or, maybe, it is the accomplishments you prove to yourself as you set up a home …

The fish are biting and camping is just heating up.  There are hikes to take, birds to see and even frogs to listen for.  This time of the year is one of the best for all sorts of outdoor adventures here in Nebraska.  However, some of us are already thinking about what we need to accomplish before hunting season resumes on September 1.  We have less than 3 months to get ready – don’t ya know! Big Game Applications for …

This turkey season was filled with some of the most grueling hunting experiences I have yet to conquer. Although I did fill my turkey permit this season, it was not completed with my bow. However, the experiences I had this season have made me a better archer and hunter. Here are the things I will be doing differently next spring archery season. Practicing different shot placements specifically for turkeys. Prior to this turkey season, I was unsure of the best …

Hiking is a supportive activity for your heart and body as well as a much needed chance to recharge your mind. Recreationally walking through nature plays into all of your senses. You will become enchanted by the sound of a bird symphony while simultaneously watching the ocean of leaves dancing on the trees by the same breeze that you feel blowing through your hair.  Hiking is a way to tap into the explorative side of ourselves we treasured as a …

Feeling the need to be outdoors I opted to try my luck on some panfish for a couple evenings this past week.  The first night as I left the lake I had to pump the breaks to allow a tom turkey to get across the road ahead of me. His thick, beard nearly sweeping the ground in front of him.   After fishing the second evening I spotted the same gobbler (I assume) in pretty much the same spot.  He was …

Still have an open spring turkey permit?  Me, too.  But with the season running until May 31 (what I believe to be the longest spring turkey hunting season in the U.S.) there is still plenty of time to get out and find a Nebraska gobbler or two.  In fact, I think the best of the season is just getting started.  Here’s why… The spring hunting trips I have been on this year have been filled with talkative toms. Even when …

Spring has come alive these last few days.  April is upon us and we have all know that April showers bring May flowers. I don’t mind the cool, cloudy days. Those are the days when I do the most thinking and therefore my best planning. All of the outdoor adventures I could discover this camping season have been dancing around in my mind. This time of year is when I do most of my camping preparations. My method usually goes …

There are three things that I take as telltale signs that spring is here: the chirping of the Boreal Chorus Frog, budding trees, and the sound of gobbling turkeys. The latter of these signs is what excites me the most about spring’s slow arrival. Until recently, I’ve spent much of turkey season sitting behind the barrel of a 20 gauge shotgun. This season will be spent looking through the sites of my Matthews bow. I’ve had great luck hunting for …

I love to cook! And like most folks, I love to eat.  One of my favorite things to do with family and friends is prepare a big meal with just about everything on the table being something I grew in my garden or harvested from the field.  But when you start to talk to those who have yet to indulge in the bounty of the great outdoors (a.k.a. wild game) you might be witness to some scrunched faces and even an occasional …