Nebraskaland Magazine

Situated along the Elkhorn River, Red Wing Wildlife Management Area is a haven for wildlife. Story and photos by  Eric Fowler Dams, diversions and development have changed many rivers in Nebraska. The Elkhorn River is not one of them. It still winds its way through the northeastern Nebraska countryside, its channel slowly shifting course from year to year. During floods, those shifts can be drastic. That is what happened sometime early in the 20th century at what would, in 1977, …

The calendar said it was fall, late fall.  In reality it was a beautiful evening, warm, a breath of southeast breeze.  A few clouds hung in the western sky, just enough to make another spectacular autumn sunset. I got to the lake early; wanted to scout a few spots before the evening bite.  It was a reservoir I had fished before, but never in the fall.  Up until this evening, I had never targeted walleyes there either.  Having done some …

A few weeks ago I spread the word about some road work scheduled at Davis Creek Reservoir.  In the past week or two I started hearing some rumors about that project and then I saw an official update: Davis Creek Recreation Area Road Closure Postponed The road improvement project previously scheduled for Oct. 1 through December 21, 2023, at Davis Creek Recreation Area, is being postponed. No construction bids were accepted for the project to pave the access road through …

As Nebraska’s largest hunt by participation – the firearm deer hunting season – comes into view from Nov. 11-19, visions of antlers and venison tenderloins can make the mind wander a bit. So before you take to your stand or blind, please read over these deer hunting safety tips and regulation reminders to keep yourself focused, safe, ethical and within the rules. With 44 years at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and as a rural land manager and longtime …

Four families of lizards can be found in Nebraska, with a total of 10 different species. By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist Take a quick hike through the prairies of western Nebraska or the rocky terrain bordering Kansas, and you may see a scampering reptile with a long slender tail. Don’t panic — it’s not a snake. It’s just the most underrated reptile of all: lizards. With 6,000 species worldwide, one could say that lizards have been rather successful. They …

If you are any kind of sports fan, you know that Bob Knight passed away this week.  To say that he was a controversial figure would be an understatement.  No doubt he was an old-school coach.  Also no doubt he was very successful. He also had a passion for the outdoors, for hunting and fishing.  I suspect he was in many ways a different person in that venue. Regardless of your opinion of The General on and off the basketball …

November is a great time for viewing bighorn sheep in the Nebraska Panhandle. By Olivia DaRugna, Wildlife Diversity Biologist Before the 1900s, Audubon bighorn sheep inhabited parts of western Nebraska, including the Wildcat Hills, the Pine Ridge and along the North Platte River from the Wyoming state line to eastern Lincoln County. It was thought that the Audubon bighorn became extinct in the early 1900s, with its last stronghold being the South Dakota badlands. Since 1981, the Nebraska Game and …

I love traveling around Nebraska.  Love getting out of the eastern end of the state and back “home” every chance I get.  When I do that, I am often made aware that life in the city gets sped up more than needed.  I appreciate being reminded to take a breath and slow down when I am back in the real Nebraska. That is a good reminder if you are still spending some time on the water this time of year. …

A wildlife biologist at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge shares his perspectives on one of his favorite pastimes: hunting prairie grouse. By Justin Haag Melvin Nenneman knows birds. As wildlife biologist for the 71,516-acre Valentine National Wildlife Refuge the past 21 years, he’s become familiar with flying creatures that range in size from the huge pelicans cruising the shallow lakes to minute grasshopper sparrows flittering about the rolling, grass-covered dunes. He and his coworkers strive to preserve and maintain the …

I have blogged about this topic before, but it has been awhile.  The model of wildlife conservation on this continent has been the most successful in history.  Yeah, yeah, I know that is a boring topic and can be an extensive one as well.  However, if you hunt, fish, trap, enjoy our natural resources in any way or feel that conservation of those resources is important, then you need to understand this model. Stumbled upon this relatively short article that …