NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s shotgun turkey season appears to be off to a good start one month after a catastrophic flood and severe winter storm hit the state. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission continues to assess damage on its properties as cleanup and repairs have begun. For hunters, turkeys that likely had been displaced from traditional spring habitats, such as riparian areas, likely will begin returning to those areas soon. Hunters should find turkeys breaking up and spreading out. …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Lake Ogallala’s trout fishery has been enhanced with the stocking of 10,000 rainbow trout by the Rock Creek State Fish Hatchery from April 4-15. In addition, the Grove Trout Rearing Station completed a second spring stocking April 16 at Columbus’ Pawnee Park West Lake, Norfolk’s TaHaZouka Park Lake, and West Point’s Neligh Park Pond. It stocked additional trout April 17 at Lincoln’s Holmes Lake. The second trout stockings of some lakes came from a surplus created when …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy a meal of local bacon and beer at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park on April 28. The Bacon and Beer Feed will take place fireside in the Council House from noon to 2 p.m. The four-course menu includes five varieties of bacon from local pork and beef. Cure Cooking and Too Far North, both located in Fort Calhoun, will provide the meal and brews. Visit curecooking.com/baconbeerfeed for the full menu and to register. The cost is …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists are seeking private landowners interested in enrolling in the Open Fields and Waters (OFW) Program this spring. Through the program, landowners can earn additional income for allowing walk-in hunting, trapping and/or fishing access on their properties. With over 97 percent of Nebraska’s land-base in private ownership, obtaining access to private lands continues to be one of the biggest challenges facing hunters and anglers. In 2018, over 700 private landowners participated in …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider recommendations for 2019 deer, antelope and elk hunting seasons when it meets April 24 at Ponca State Park. The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the park’s Missouri National Recreational River Resource and Education Center. The park is located at 88090 Spur 26E in Dixon County. A public hearing is scheduled for proposed amendments to Commission orders pertaining to season dates, bag limits, permit quantities and areas open …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The world of a Plains soldier will come to life May 4-5 at Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park during the annual spring muster. At this event, themed Garrisons of the Frontier: Soldiering on the Northern Plains 1865-1870, reenactors will portray a soldier’s daily activities, including marching and standing guard, parade and inspection, cannon firings, barracks life and soldier antics. Daily civilian life will be portrayed as well, with laundresses, cooks and seamstresses hard at work around the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy a day of fun, food and fungi April 27 at the 8th Annual Outdoor Adventure at Indian Cave State Park. The day’s activities include a mushroom hunting contest, Morel Mile run and 5k race, biscuits and gravy breakfast, hayrack rides, archery, horseback rides, Dutch Oven cooking and kayaking. Biscuits and gravy will be served for breakfast, and a fish fry will be served for lunch. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/calendar for more information. A park entry permit is required …

LINCOLN, Neb. – More than 2,000 students are expected to compete in the 50th Annual Cornhusker Trapshoot May 2-4 on the home grounds of the Nebraska Trapshooting Association (NTA) in Doniphan, Nebraska. Competition will take place in individual and team divisions. Junior high students (grades 6-8) will shoot 100 16-yard targets on May 2. High school competitors (grades 9-12) will shoot 75 16-yard targets on May 3, then 75 handicap targets on May 4. The high school shooter with the …

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – The 5 mph/no wake boating restriction has been removed at Swanson Reservoir State Recreation Area in Hitchcock County. The restriction was put in place because of floating tree debris on the lake’s surface. Much of the debris has either been removed or is hung up on shorelines. Even though the restriction has been lifted, the potential of some floating debris remains. Boaters should use extreme caution on the reservoir.

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has begun the cleanup and repair of its parks and wildlife management areas affected by the March flooding. Much work remains in assessing the impact of the damage at some state parks, state historical parks, state recreation areas and wildlife management areas. Road, buildings, campgrounds and lakes were affected. Among the major state park areas still closed are Niobrara State Park, Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area (SRA), Two Rivers SRA, Schramm …