Nebraskaland Magazine

I have often joked that all of my best hunting, fishing and trapping spots are guarded by ticks, mosquitoes, itch-mites, owls, wild hogs, rattlesnakes, sasquatch and mountain loins.  Those critters are stocked in strategic locations to keep the competition away. Don’t believe me?  Well, there have been some curious reports in the news lately: Bigfoot Sighting Bigger, badder rattlesnake at Burchard Lake I have blogged frequently about the fishing at Lake Wanahoo and now a sasquatch is roaming nearby. Since …

I’ll admit, I’ve never figured myself to be much of a flower guy. Prior to this year, my nature photography has gravitated toward wildlife. I’m guilty of zooming past countless beautiful plants and flowers to fill the frame with whatever bird, mammal, reptile or other critter catches my eye. I’ve rarely stopped to shoot, let alone smell and identify, the roses. That’s changed. As nature photography, in a more broad sense, has become a big part of my job description, …

The resident gunsmith/firearms expert of my Saturday morning Great Outdoor Radio Show, Doug Bickal, will be stopping by to answer your firearms-related questions as well as offer an array of tips to help you get  your sporting arms ready to go for the various hunting seasons. On the show I’ll also have outdoor news, two rounds of Great Outdoor Trivia for some very nice prize packs to get you and your family outdoors, and, of course, tons of fun including …

You all know that I love to travel Nebraska, fish a variety of waters, catch a variety of fish, hopefully big ones, and tell you all about it.  Yep, I am going to do that again here, but this time with a little different twist. In spite of what you may think, I am not traveling the state all the time.  Like most folks, much of the time I am working out of the office, at Game & Parks headquarters …

I’ll be covering key messages for Nebraska’s popular archery deer hunting season opener on my  WOWT-TV/Channel 6 Outdoor Report this week. The season kicks off on Sunday! One of the messages I’ll be relaying to fellow deer hunters this season  is the importance of wearing a tree stand safety harness. My friends at Outdoor Life magazine say it’s vital to be a “smart dummy” and use a safety harness if you’re going to be hunting from an elevated position. I’ll …

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska High School Small Bore Rifle Silhouette Championships will be held Sept. 28 at the Pressey Wildlife Management Area (WMA) south of Broken Bow. This free competition is open to all hunter education graduates who are at least 11 years of age and have not graduated from high school. Proof of hunter education certification is required. Team competition is comprised of four-person teams in overall, high school, 4-H, and open categories. Call Matthew Haumont at 308-872-2348 …

LINCOLN, Neb. – An inaugural Kid’s Cook-off is scheduled for the Missouri River Outdoor Expo, which will be held Sept. 21-22 at Ponca State Park. The cook-off, to be held Sept. 21, will feature two divisions. Children ages 5-10 will prepare gourmet s’mores at 10 a.m. and children ages 11-15 will make pie iron Hot Pockets at 2 p.m. All the food, equipment and supplies will be provided. Children will be given a variety of ingredients and then encouraged to …

I have made the statement before, will make it again right now. . . . WATER will be THE issue of this century for western states including Nebraska.  Some of us are accused of being “chicken littles” because when we have a wet year, like we had in 2011, everyone forgets that many of our water resources are already being tapped at a maximum sustainable rate or more!  When we get a dry year, like 2012, everyone remembers that we …

Ever driven Douglas County’s Rainwood Road from 60th to 72nd Streets just beyond the northern fringe of Omaha? It’s cool! In fact, it’s one of my favorite drives in the metro area. My photos hardly portray how scenic this drive really is. Nearly every time I drive the road (which is fairly often), I always see wild turkeys along it or on it! The locals have nicknamed this stretch of Rainwood “turkey alley.” If you happen to be up in …

LINCOLN, Neb. – Despite the coming temporary closures at 29 Nebraska State Park areas, visitors will be allowed walk-in activities such as picnicking, bank fishing, photography, wildlife viewing, hunting and trail use from sunrise to sunset. The park areas will be gated and/or posted a short distance from the entrance. Visitors will be able to park on the outside edges of the park area, but they will not be allowed to drive on the interior roads. Areas will be gated …