NGPC News

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will train apprentice bow hunter education instructors Dec. 13 in Elba. The workshop will be from 6-9 p.m. at the Elba Community Center, 519 12th St. Registration is required by Dec. 12. Contact Mike Streeter at 402-471-6134 or mike.streeter@nebraska.gov or visit huntsafenebraska.org.

LINCOLN – Explore the world of crafts at Cornucopia of Crafts, Nov. 29-Dec. 1 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Ashland. Crafts and activities will be available for men, women and children at Peter Kiewit Lodge. Craft vendors will include home décor, jewelry, chainsaw carvings, lawn art, pottery, jerky, taxidermy and woodwork. Face painting will be available for children. Event hours are 2-8 p.m. on Nov. 29, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. on Nov. 30, and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Dec. …

LINCOLN – With the November firearm deer season nearing, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has several reminders for keeping hunters safe. Deer hunters should: — wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange on his or her head, chest and back. This is required for any person hunting deer during the Nov. 16-24 firearm deer season, including archers. — never allow the muzzle of their firearm to be pointed at something they do not intend to shoot. — …

LINCOLN – Several Nebraska fishing records have been certified since July, including two by archer Ryan Reynolds of Lexington. The first was a 2-ounce alewife he arrowed July 22 at Elwood Reservoir in Gosper County. The second was a 3-pound, 9-ounce smallmouth bass taken Aug. 10 at Phillips Canyon Reservoir, also in Gosper County. Three other archery records have been set. Josh Kern of Fremont took a 40-pound, 13-ounce blue catfish July 11 in the Platte River in Dodge County. …

LINCOLN – Several hundred pheasants will be released by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at each of nine wildlife management areas (WMA) before Thanksgiving. These releases will provide additional opportunities for hunters and their families during the holiday weekend. The adult roosters will be released at the same WMAs where pheasants were released for the special youth hunt Oct. 19-20: Pressey (Custer County); Sherman Reservoir (Sherman County); Oak Valley (Madison County); Branched Oak (Lancaster County); Twin Oaks (Johnson County); …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has partnered with the Omaha World-Herald to create a new website on all things related to outdoor Nebraska – GoOutdoorsNE.com. The site features a mix of outdoor-related content from Game and Parks, NEBRASKAland Magazine and World-Herald staff, including the latest interactive digital edition of NEBRASKAland, as well as news alerts, social media updates, access to outdoor forums, trophy board for hunters, photo galleries, videos, links and more. Content is updated daily. “GoOutdoorsNE.com …

LINCOLN – NEBRASKAland Magazine, a product of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, is now available in interactive digital format. Readers can access the publication by visiting OutdoorNebraska.org, then clicking on NEBRASKAland. Features include embedded videos, links to Game and Parks’ website, photo galleries and social sharing. This free digital magazine is also available through Game and Parks’ new website partnership with the Omaha World-Herald – GoOutdoorsNE.com. NEBRASKAland, which debuted in 1926, is published 10 times a year.

LINCOLN – Wearing blaze orange while hunting this fall is the key to safely being seen by other hunters and seeing them. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission requires hunters to wear at least 400 square inches of blaze orange on their head, chest and back when: — Hunting turkeys during the November firearm deer season (Nov. 16-24). — Hunting deer, antelope, elk or bighorn sheep with a firearm permit during a firearm season. — Hunting deer with archery equipment …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds deer hunters that they may donate deer to the Hunters Helping the Hungry program at any of 21 contracted meat processors. Game and Parks, not hunters, pays processing costs for donated deer. Processors will accept only deer in good condition that can yield a good volume of pure ground venison. The ground venison is distributed to Nebraskans in need through local charitable organizations. Hunters Helping the Hungry funds can pay to …

LINCOLN – Father Hupp Wildlife Management Area in Thayer County has reopened to public use following the completion of a wetland renovation and development project. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will be reseeding the bermed dikes and islands. The enhancement of this wetland area, located 2 miles west of Bruning, will greatly increase its use by migratory waterfowl and provide more hunting opportunities.