Conservation

I have been a fisherman all my life.  Have worked as a professional fisheries biologist for 30-some years now.  I have spent a lot of time on the water, and an awful lot of time observing anglers.  I have come to a conclusion:  By far, most anglers are sheep! What do I mean by that? I mean that most anglers follow the herd. If you have launched on one of our most popular fisheries and found a pack of boats …

I have been promising that we have been raising some more cutthroat trout and will be stocking them again in Nebraska waters.  I just got word that the first of those stockings has happened!  A thousand 10-inch cutties were stocked in the White River in far northwest Nebraska today! Those of you still needing a cutthroat to complete your Nebraska Trout Slam, there are some more out there again! We have a few thousand more cutthroats at the Grove Trout …

CHADRON, Neb. – The public is invited to examine the natural diversity of the Pine Ridge during the fourth annual Chadron State Park Bioblitz on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 6-7. A bioblitz challenges attendees to identify as many plants and animal species as possible within a designated area and timeframe. During this bioblitz, members of the public will team up with local natural resources experts to explore and learn about the biodiversity and habitat at Chadron State Park. “This is …

CHADRON, Neb. – A habitat restoration project at Bordeaux Creek Wildlife Management Area east of Chadron will soon get a boost by the use of prescribed fire. The burning is set to occur within an area comprising about 10 percent of the 1,841-acre property when conditions are favorable in the coming month. The projected burn area, which is just south of U.S. Highway 20 in the northcentral part of the property, is outside of the pine forest and consists primarily …

Yep, it’s that time of year again, state fair time! Enjoy family fun with Nebraska Game and Parks at 2019 state fair LINCOLN, Neb. – With plenty of features for both kids and adults, the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Encounter exhibit provides a fun stop for the entire family at the 2019 Nebraska State Fair. Housed in the Nebraska Building, the exhibit includes an indoor archery range and air gun range for ages 6 and above, a 6,000-gallon aquarium …

There is one thing about the culture of fishing, even the way society thinks about fishing, that I wish I could change. . . . The question about whether a fish is “big enough to keep?” is wrong, completely wrong, 180 degrees wrong. What?  You think my pointy-head has finally gone completely crazy? No, not at all.  Let me explain. . . . Catch and release is a part of modern sportfishing.  It is guaranteed that anglers will be releasing …

Everything is in place, isn’t it? Fully vetted, trained mentors/experienced bowhunters with transportation, check. Permission from parents or guardians for youth to participate, check. Young mentees who’ve successfully completed the Nebraska bowhunter education course and met the other requirements, check. The necessary equipment, check. Shooting proficiency on the target range, check. Wait, are we missing anything? Oh yeah, a place to go. Wait. What? A place to go. That is what is needed in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s …

I blogged about the project on Dry Spotted Tail Creek early this spring, time for a little update: New trout stream section to improve habitats near Mitchell MITCHELL, Neb. – Anglers, fish and a diverse set of wildlife will soon enjoy a new stretch of trout stream in the western Panhandle. Construction is underway to add nearly three-quarters of a mile of trout stream on Dry Spotted Tail Creek just west of Mitchell in Scotts Bluff County. The new stream …

A news release went out on this, but again I want to spread the word and call attention to it: Limited number of paddlefish snagging permits available for purchase LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska residents will be able to purchase 2019 paddlefish snagging permits that were forfeited during the paddlefish snagging permit draw. The permits will go on sale on Monday, Aug. 19, at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time, and will be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Twenty permits are …

Last week I wrote a blog about all of the high water and flooding we have seen in the state this year and the many impacts that will have on our aquatic resources and fish populations (Water, water everywhere).  I am not going to re-hash that blog here, you can read it if you want to know the many negative, and positive benefits we will realize from all the water we have had this year. No, in this blog post …