Conservation

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 …

Took an extra day off over the long Thanksgiving holiday and missed the weather and bad roads coming home.  Need to catch up with another blog post. . . . I “called my shot” a bit last week expecting that I would spend some time both hunting and fishing with family over the long weekend.  We feasted, played games, enjoyed the time together and yes, hunted and fished. It always feels good to go for a little walk after the …

The holiday season is upon us and it’s filled with many hunting traditions as family and friends get together, especially in waterfowl hunting blinds. For most of us, hunting is about much more than a successful harvest. It’s about spending time afield bonding with family and friends, watching the sunrise over a river wetland on a crisp morning or watching the sunset from a harvested cornfield on a warm, windy evening, plus having exciting stories to tell when you get …

You all know I love to fish, year-round, love it all.  I love to ice fish, but have to admit my fall was really good this year and I hate to see it come to an end (updates and pictures coming in other blog posts, soon).  Yes, I was still fishing open water this past week; yes, my son and I did really well, but I am thinking that may have been about the end of it for this year. …

Like many of you, I will be heading out the door for “grandmother’s house” for a weekend of feasting and family.  I will also try to sneak away to walk off some of the feasting and see if I might rustle up a few of these: The extended Thanksgiving weekend is also a great time to combo up–some late fall fishing along with hunting.  Maybe I can dry off a few of these: Or some of these, have to see …

You all know that I like to show off pictures of some of the exceptional fish our field fisheries biologists sample throughout the state.  I learned a long time ago that people are fascinated by big fish, and of course anglers love to know those fish are swimming out there in Nebraska waters. Yes, stewardship of the state’s sport fish fisheries is very important and we spend a lot of time sampling a wide variety of sport fish in lakes, …

I am never very crazy about polls or questions inquiring about “favorite fish”.  Every fish can be fun to catch and there is something unique to appreciate about every species.  Discussions on the topic invariably include descriptions of how various species fight when hooked, and those perceived to pull the most, hardest, or jump out of the water the highest rank high on every angler’s list. I love all of that, I love the thrill of having a fish on …

Last week I had a boring blog post about fisheries science.  It was a fundamental description of what a “fishery” is and how pointy-headed biologists manage fisheries.  Part of the reason I posted that was because I wanted to lay some ground work for additional posts about other fisheries management topics.  So, let me reconvene the Fisheries Science 101 class again today and talk about a subject that I believe is misunderstood by some. . . renovations. Let me start …

Yes, my blogging is usually about fish and fishing, but I love to hunt too.  I know my bow-hunting buddies have been enjoying the best week of archery deer hunting over the past week and our rifle deer season here in Nebraska opens tomorrow.  I also know in my wanderings over the past couple of weeks that there is more deer movement every day right now! I am sure there have been a few news conferences like this already, will …

Our Nebraska Game & Parks Commission fisheries biologists are finishing up their fall fish sampling around the state.  I am starting to hear a few stories about what they sampled, will be getting data summaries and starting to put together next year’s Fishing Forecast in the coming weeks. Once again let me post a disclaimer before I show you the pictures:  When pointy-headed fisheries biologists sample fish populations they are NOT trying to capture the biggest fish in a population.  …