Nebraskaland Magazine

Quick blog post before, like many of you, being out the door for the long Labor Day weekend!  This is traditionally the holiday at the end of summer, and that is the way most of us will celebrate it.  However, I guess it has something to do with “labor”?  Which brings some thoughts to mind. . . . It is about time we got a break from work! It is just something we have to do between fishing trips. So …

By Olivia DaRugna Summer has come and gone, and with it disappears the familiar songs and breeding activity of birds. For many birds, the end of summer means fueling their bodies with caterpillars, bugs and berries for the journey south to wintering grounds. Several species have just started the gorging phase in September, while others have already taken flight, such as hummingbirds and curlews. Birders, too, need to prepare for the challenges that come with fall birding. In the fall, …

Lake Ogallala fishery to be renovated this fall The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has announced plans for a fall renovation of the Lake Ogallala fishery. Deteriorated aquatic habitat conditions and declining sportfish populations have prompted this renovation. To ensure safety, some temporary closures will be implemented. In late September, the lake water levels will be lowered and an approved fish toxicant will be applied to eliminate the existing fish population. The Lake Ogallala East and West campgrounds will be …

A celebration of the ways seeds transport themselves around the world and onto our pants and pets. Story and photos by Chris Helzer We’ve all been there. You’re in the middle of a perfectly pleasant walk through a woodland, wetland or prairie and you glance down to find your pant legs covered with sticky seeds. “Well, dadgum,” you exclaim, “would you look at that incredible seed dispersal adaptation!” “Golly,” you continue, “those little hooked spines sure are effective at catching …

Want to highlight a couple of brief news updates in my blog today.  First, this one on the Public Lands Atlas: 2023-2024 Public Access Atlas now available There are more than a million acres of publicly accessible lands throughout Nebraska. The recently published 2023-2024 Public Access Atlas identifies and consolidates these public access resources for the benefit of Nebraska’s hunters, trappers and anglers. Printed copies of this year’s atlas are available at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission headquarters and soon …

Fall is quickly approaching and there is nothing more satisfying than sitting by a campfire and enjoying a hearty meal from a Dutch oven. Simple one pot meals that will give your taste buds a treat and a full stomach. These tried-and-true pieces of American history haven’t change much over the years and a quality oven can last a century. Many new campers and outdoor enthusiasts alike are anxious to learn how to cook in them. I have been around …

Story and photos by Eric Fowler When Kevin Fierro came to the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in the fall of 2020, he knew little about rowing, much less that the school had a club crew team. “I’d only seen those types of boats maybe twice in my life on TV,” said Fierro, a graduate of Grand Island High School, who like many Americans, only see the sport every four years when the Olympics roll around. This fall, Fierro will …

This post has nothing to do with Nebraska, or fishing in Nebraska. It does have everything to do with fishing, and is a great story.  Give it a read! https://www.thecoastlandtimes.com/2022/10/04/man-reunited-with-rod-and-reel-50-years-after-outer-banks-fishing-trip-took-a-turn-for-the-worse/ If you have fished for a while, you might have a story or two about lost fishing rods.  Off the top of my head, a couple come to mind, funny, both from ice-fishing.  One of them, Grove Lake never did return.  The other, we could see the buoyant handle of …

By Justin Haag A weekly radio segment featuring outdoor topics relevant to the Nebraska Panhandle. This week, the program features the state reptile — the ornate box turtle. Justin Haag · Panhandle Afield: Ornate Box Turtles Air Dates: Aug. 18-25 Length: 3:00 Episode 284

Living history volunteer Bob Baker celebrates 30 years at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park  By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley Fort Atkinson State Historical Park is located in Fort Calhoun, Washington County. The original military post was active 1819-1827, and its main purpose was to protect the American fur trade by guarding the “gateway to the West.” At its height, Fort Atkinson housed nearly a quarter of the standing U.S. Army (approximately 1,200 soldiers) and roughly that many civilians lived just beyond the …