NGPC News

It’s the time of year for Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to survey Lake McConaughy anglers for information that assists in statewide fisheries management decisions. Two surveys will be conducted at the state recreation area starting April 1: A daytime survey will take place April through October with clerks approaching anglers at boat ramps and shoreline locations. A nighttime survey on walleye spawn will take place April to May, with survey stations set up at parking lots at the dam …

A virtual option to view the March 29 Lake McConaughy public informational meeting on walleye fishing has been added. The meeting is at 7 p.m. Mountain time at the Lake McConaughy Visitor Center. Find the Zoom link to watch live through the event listing at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will discuss fisheries research, changes in stocking and angler surveys, and those in attendance can ask questions, be a part of discussion, and give feedback. Game and Parks’ recent …

Learn the art of turkey calling during a workshop April 5 at the Nebraska Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln. Novice to advanced turkey hunters both will benefit from the experience learning the many calls and calling techniques of wild turkey — while increasing their chances of success in the field. The workshop, hosted by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the National Wild Turkey Federation, is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the center located at 4703 N. 44th …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center still has openings for its five Lincoln-based summer camps that offer children the chance to explore the natural world and learn outdoor skills. The Go Explore camps are 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, with extended drop off and pick up hours available. The Go Explore: Counselor Training Camp is open to ages 14 and up, while the Survival, Hunting and Archery camps are open to ages 8-13. All camps …

April is a month of fun and games at Arbor Lodge State Historical Park. Arbor Lodge Mansion will host the History of Games on April 2 and 9 in celebration of National Board Game Day, which is April 11. Various historic games will be set up throughout the mansion for guests to enjoy. Learn the history behind such games as Mansion of Happiness, Checkers, Dominos, Fox and Geese, Tic-Tac-Toe, Tiddlywinks, and many more. Also, the lodge will host an Easter …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved 2022-2023 waterfowl hunting season recommendations at its March 23 meeting in Nebraska City. Staff recommended opening duck season in zones 2 and 4 a week earlier than the 2021-2022 season. Waterfowl recommendations are developed balancing hunter preferences with chronology of migration, hunter harvest, and hunter participation. Goose hunting dates in the North Central Unit start concurrently with duck season, which was strongly preferred by waterfowl hunters in Zone 2. The full approved 2022-2023 …

A regulation change made by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission allows Nebraska hunters to buy deer and antelope permits in non-draw management units before nonresidents. The commissioners, at their March 23 meeting in Nebraska City, amended wildlife regulations to create additional purchase periods for big game permits. The result gives residents preference over nonresidents. Pending final approval by the state, the 2022 big game permit and preference point purchase periods are: Period 1: June 13-24 – Residents and nonresidents …

Harrison Harvey of Lincoln Southwest and Autumn Wissenburg of Milford had the highest male and female scores, respectively, at the National Archery in the Schools Program state tournament March 19 in Lincoln. Harvey scored 289 points and Wissenburg 278 — out of a possible 300 — to win their respective high school divisions. Aaron Wohleb of Lincoln Southwest had the second-highest score at 288. Fourth-grader Paul Ng of Omaha’s Mater Dei Academy scored a third-best 283 and also won first …

With migration underway and spring on our doorstep, now is a great time to get outside, bring some binoculars and walk a trail to see wildlife. Nebraska has many opportunities thanks to our diverse habitats – everything from prairie to ponderosa pine, wetlands and more than 23,000 miles of rivers and streams. Nebraska’s state parks are an ideal place to see the wildlife they hold, with a vast number of trails located in natural settings. Here are some of the …

Several park improvement projects this year will increase opportunity at Nebraska Game and Parks in northeast Nebraska, while others recently completed addressed lingering effects of the destructive 2019 flood. The following is a roundup of those projects: Summit Lake SRA getting new equestrian trail Work will be completed this spring on a 10-mile equestrian trail around Summit Lake near Tekamah. A grand opening for the trail is planned for late summer. The trail will feature a shallow-water crossing on the …