NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Pheasants Forever and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host prescribed burn training workshops across the state early in 2019. These workshops will provide guidance and instruction for completing safe and effective prescribed fires. Landowners, resource professionals, volunteer fire departments and other interested persons are invited to attend. No prior burn experience is required. Most workshops are scheduled for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Basic workshops will be held Jan. 17 in Grand Island and Wayne, Jan. 23 …

CRAWFORD, Neb. – Christmas is just around the corner, but it was Father’s Day that brought a southeast Nebraska man and his son to northwest Nebraska this month for an experience of a lifetime. As a Father’s Day gift, Greg Hunter of Johnson has entered Nebraska’s bighorn sheep permit lottery each of the past four years for his father, Dave Hunter of Auburn. It proved a good investment as the elder Hunter’s name was the one drawn in the lottery …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Applications for multispecies Super Tag and Combo lottery permits will be accepted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission beginning Jan. 2. The Super Tag lottery permit will be valid for one elk of either sex, one antelope of either sex, one deer of either sex and two turkeys (only toms and bearded hens may be taken in the spring). One permit will be authorized for residents only, and one permit will be authorized for residents/nonresidents. Persons …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Stay safe on the ice this winter while enjoying a day of ice-fishing. Follow these tips from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for safety on the ice: — The minimum ice thickness for supporting one person is at least 4 inches of clear, solid ice. — Drill holes or use an ice chisel or spud bar to check the ice conditions while working your way out to your fishing spot. — Wear a life jacket. — …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Bird-watchers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in the annual Christmas Bird Count at Ponca State Park on Dec. 14. Members of the Loess Hills Audubon Society will assist guests and birders in reporting sightings and comparing notes. The National Audubon Society compiles the results from Christmas Bird Counts across the nation into a long-term database used by conservationists and researchers. Ponca’s bird count starts at 8 a.m. Birders can enjoy chicken noodle …

Correction: This corrects the times of the shows in the last sentence of the fourth paragraph. LINCOLN, Neb. – A new kind of entertainment is coming to Eugene T. Mahoney State Park this winter – magic shows. Starting Dec. 8, the Denman and Mary Mallory Kountze Memorial Theatre will host two magic shows running through February 2019, “Winter Wonderland” and “Midwinter’s Night Dream.” Both shows are interactive and run approximately 45-50 minutes in length. The shows were produced by Popcorn …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters and landowners are encouraged to offer their feedback on big game issues during the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s public informational meetings this winter. Meetings are scheduled in each Game and Parks district. Biologists will explain and take questions on several topics, including deer management, deer damage and depredation permits, antlerless harvest, trophy management and diseases. Antelope and elk issues may be discussed at meetings located in areas where these species occur. All meetings begin at …

NORTH PLATTE, Neb. – The annual Christmas at the Cody’s will take place in Dec. at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park in North Platte. Every year many area organizations and volunteers decorate every nook and cranny of the Cody mansion turning the home into a seasonal wonderland. This festive event includes lights on the outbuildings, grounds and Scout’s Rest Ranch Barn to bring visitors holiday cheer from the Cody era. Buffalo Bill will welcome you to his home where …

MINATARE, Neb. — The public is invited to attend a special birdwatching event at Scout’s Rest Campground of Lake Minatare State Recreation Area. The Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission are conducting the Family Christmas Bird Count at the lake on Dec. 15 from 9-11 a.m. The lake is closed from Oct. 15-Jan. 15 each year as part of the North Platte National Wildlife Refuge, but is opening for this exclusive event. The Bird …

CHADRON, Neb. — Beginning Monday, Dec. 3, and as weather allows over the next few weeks, fire officials in forested areas of the northern Panhandle plan to burn slash piles. Both the Pine Ridge Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forests and Grasslands and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission plan to ignite piles during the next several weeks. The agencies will notify the public about specific locations as the burning begins. At various times, smoke will likely be visible …