NGPC News

LINCOLN, Neb. – Low and fluctuating water levels have created boat access issues along the Missouri River in northeastern Nebraska. Average releases from Fort Randall Dam in South Dakota have dipped below 11,000 cfs for the winter, with minimal nighttime releases. Current boat ramp conditions: • Santee – usable, use caution • Bazile Creek Wildlife Management Area – poor access, use extreme caution • Niobrara Townsite – usable, use caution • Niobrara Confluence – unusable • Verdel Landing WMA – …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Shopping for an outdoor enthusiast on your holiday list? The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offers these nine gift ideas sure to satisfy the outdoor enthusiast in your life: Annual state park permits: Nebraska offers more than 70 state park areas from one end of the state to the other, with opportunities for fishing, hiking, camping, wildlife watching, history or just enjoying the beautiful outdoors. A gift of a state park permit is a gift of experiences. …

GERING, Neb. — Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management Area, which experienced a monumental wildfire in mid-November, has reopened to the public. Although the property is open, Nebraska Game and Parks wildlife manager Hunter Baillie of Alliance recommends visitors stay away from burned areas and practice heightened caution. Some trees are still smoldering, and many have been weakened and will pose a risk of falling for years to come. Estimates show that 1,742 of the wildlife area’s 4,141 acres burned in the …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters in southeast Nebraska wanting to participate in the Hunters Helping the Hungry program will have one less meat processor available to them this season. Pelican’s Processing in Johnson has reached capacity for deer processing for the Hunters Helping the Hungry program and no longer will accept donations. The revised list of participating meat processors: Amherst – Belschner Custom Meats; Diller – Diller Locker; Franklin – Franklin Locker; Grand Island – Nielsen’s Processing; Lindsay – Melcher’s Locker; …

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska state parks will be offering a variety of events throughout the month of December. Find an event near you to celebrate the festive season. To stay informed about additional holiday events as they are scheduled, visit calendar.outdoornebraska.gov. Lewis and Clark SRA Tree Decorating Contest LINCOLN, Neb. — Put your tree decorating skills to the test for a chance to win a two-night cabin stay at Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area near Crofton. The contest is …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking public input on its updated draft pheasant management plan. The 2021 Berggren Plan is named after the late Lynn Berggren, who served as a Commissioner from 2007-2016. The plan seeks to improve the pheasant hunting experience in Nebraska over the next five years with a primary emphasis on improving habitat and increasing public access with several priority areas located throughout the state. The plan aims to build on past …

LINCOLN, Neb. — A workshop and mentored squirrel hunt for women age 16 and older is set for 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 4. Cost is $15 and covers both instruction and materials. Lunch will be provided. An 8 a.m. learning session will cover squirrel hunting techniques and include target practice at the Nebraska Outdoor Education Center, 4703 N 44th St., Lincoln. The second half of the workshop will be a guided hunt outside of Lincoln city limits. A …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy family-friendly Omaha magician Ryan Chandler as he performs at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park on Nov. 27 for the first of several dates. Chandler, who has appeared on television with magicians Penn and Teller, will perform at 3 p.m. at Kountze Memorial Theater. Other performances will be Dec. 18, 3 p.m.; Jan. 1, 5 p.m.; Feb. 12, 3 p.m.; March 12, 3 p.m.; April 1, 7 p.m.; and May 1, 3 p.m. Admission is $10 for …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission educators have scheduled interesting and engaging events for the curious in December. Here are a few opportunities: Little Saplings early childhood program presents Night Animals LINCOLN, Neb. – The Little Saplings early childhood nature discovery program will have the program, Night Animals, at Schramm Education Center at 9 a.m. Dec. 1. Not all animals sleep at night. Discover how nature comes alive at night for many animals. The program, designed for children …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept submissions for the 2021 Nebraskaland Magazine photo contest through Jan. 1, 2022. With miles of winding rivers, wide-open vistas and wildlife from border to border, Nebraska is a photographer’s paradise. Each year, Nebraskaland Magazine celebrates the state’s beauty and recognizes the outstanding work of photographers across Nebraska during this annual photo contest. Photographers of all ages and skill levels are invited to submit photos in four categories: Wildlife — …