Nebraskaland Magazine

Wait, what? Foraging for Edible Wild Plants (or Parts Thereof) in Winter, seriously? Yup! Trust me. Don’t stop reading. Stay with me here. Gathering wild foods in Nebraska IS NOT … I repeat IS NOT just a spring, summer or fall outdoor activity, it can be done in winter even with snow cover. I learned this from my grandfather, Frank Hintz. And I have done it successfully. Remember, if I can do it, you can do it! Plus foraging this …

Participating in outdoor activities during winter can be tons of fun, but stay safe in the cold. By Julie Geiser Frostbite Frostbite happens when the skin and outer tissues of your body become frozen. This condition tends to happen on extremities such as the fingers, toes, ears and nose. They may become pale, gray and blistered, and the skin will have a burning sensation or become numb. If frostbite occurs, head indoors and place the frostbitten parts of your body …

A week ago I posted a somewhat traditional New Year’s blog (Happy New Year, 2024).  You know, I included the customary, happy new year, make some resolutions, blah, blah, blah. Actually, many of you know, my new year starts each year the first time I walk on the ice, drill some holes and pull some fish through those holes!  Admittedly, that can be a bit of a moving target.  “New Year” came at around the Thanksgiving holiday last year.  Most …

Four budding hunters were given the special opportunity to hunt on pristine ranch land in the Sandhills. By Justin Haag The description would surely get attention from near and far if posted by a real estate agent: “Outstanding mule deer property with 7,000 acres of pristine ranch land in the Sandhills of northwestern Cherry County. Has not been hunted in decades.” Four budding hunters were given the special opportunity to hunt such a property in December 2022 during the Nebraska …

(EDITORS NOTE:  I am hearing a few whispers about folks starting to venture on the ice, in Nebraska.  For most of us, we are NOT there yet, but hopefully we are getting close enough for me to do my annual reminder about ice safety.  Do not need to re-write that post, am simply going to dust off a previous one and run it again. . . . ) Believe it or not, I know there have been some folks on …

A stopwatch is nearly as important to your fishing success as your rod and reel. By Jeff Kurrus Staring into an 8-inch hole in the ice, your eyes following the thinnest fishing line you’ve ever seen, might be the most addictive activity on the planet. So addictive, in fact, that a stopwatch is nearly as important to your fishing success as your rod and reel. Using this uncommon ice fishing device, an angler can assure that they will in fact …

Forty-five years is very long time for anything, isn’t it? Forty-five years is an exceptionally long time for working at the same organization. Think about it — four-and-a-half decades. WOW! This year, 2024, marks the beginning of my 45th year at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. My career spans a few different divisions within the agency – Fisheries, Parks and Information and Education (now Communications). I will be 62 years of age this year and I started working at …

By Alie Mayes, Community Science Specialist It is a long-held tradition to take time around the New Year to reflect on what’s important, to acknowledge accomplishments and to imagine how we can live more closely aligned with our values in the next year. If the outdoors and conservation are important to you, here are a few ways to better connect with nature in 2024. Track the Changes As we see more changes in our climate, we also are witnessing changes …

Friday blog post right ahead of a holiday weekend again this weekend.  Going to keep it short and light-hearted. Have never been a big observer of New Year’s resolutions.  I always figured that if you needed to do something the old Nike motto was appropriate:  “Just Do It”.  No sense in making resolutions or promises that you might or might not keep. However, the end of a year and beginning of a new one is a natural time of reflection.  …

How tuberculosis ended public spitting. By Patricia C. Gaster, History Nebraska During the late 19th century, spittoons became a common feature of saloons, hotels, stores, banks, railway carriages and other places where adult men gathered. Many localities passed laws against public spitting other than into a spittoon, but such laws were seldom enforced. Some people of this era objected to restrictions on where they could spit as an infringement on their individual liberty. Nonetheless, anti-spitting sentiment was growing. The Norfolk Weekly …