LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska anglers took two new state record fish during July.

Cody Sparks of Kearney took a 2 pound, 7 ounce shorthead redhorse sucker from the Kearney Canal in Buffalo County on a nightcrawler while fishing there July 29. The previous state record shorthead redhorse weighed 2 pounds, six ounces.

An 8 pound, 2 ounce silver carp was taken from the Missouri River at the mouth of Papio Creek with bow and arrow by Jeffrey Knott of Omaha on July 2. There was no previous silver carp state record in the archery division.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Whenever people gather to have a good time, it seems there are always a few outlaws who show up to take advantage of the situation for their own gain.

For instance, nearly $5,000 worth of camping and fishing gear was stolen from visitors at Merritt Reservoir State Recreation Area during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Among the items stolen were a Honda generator, a trolling motor, a fish finder and fishing gear and tackle valued at several hundred dollars.

Dana Miller, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Law Enforcement Division staff supervisor, said the thieves entered several campsites during the early morning hours on July 4 and made off with the unattended items.

Conservation Officer Murray Johnson, who coordinates the Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers program, says thousands of dollars worth of outdoor equipment is stolen from campsites, vehicles and boats throughout the year and that anything that is not put away or tied down is liable to come up missing. “Most of the items stolen had been left on a picnic table, outside of a tent, on an unattended boat or in an unlocked vehicle,” he said.

Coolers, regardless of their contents, lanterns, portable radios, and portable stoves are easy prey for an opportunist that finds a campsite left unattended and the gear left lying around. Anglers must also be careful about what they leave in their boats. Those who leave rods, reels, tackle boxes and other accessories in their boat unattended overnight or out of sight of their camp are inviting someone to make off with their gear.

“A campsite can be ripped off in as little as 10 or 15 seconds,” Johnson said. “Someone may park on a nearby road, run into a campsite, pick something up and run back to their vehicle. Bicycles are also occasionally stolen from a campsite. The thieves may use the stolen gear themselves, or it may show up at a garage sale or pawn shop somewhere.”

“A good rule of thumb is, you shouldnt leave anything unattended at a campsite at the lake that you wouldnt leave unattended in your front yard,” Johnson said.

Hunters or target shooters should avoid displaying their firearms and other equipment in unattended vehicles or on pickup gun racks, advertising the condition, type and value of the guns inside the vehicle.

People should mark or engrave their name and social security number in an inconspicuous place on their gear so the equipment can be easily identified if it is stolen and later recovered by the police.

If you witness or know of a game law violation, call the Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers toll-free hotline, 1-800-742-7627. The hotline will be answered by a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff member from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. After hours and on weekends and holidays, it is answered by the Nebraska State Patrol, which is in radio contact with the conservation officers.

To report information specifically pertaining to the thefts of gear and equipment at Merritt Reservoir over the Fourth of July weekend, contact Cherry County Crimestoppers at 402-376-3676, the Cherry County Sheriffs Department, or the Nebraska Wildlife Crimestopper hotline.

Those volunteering information are not required to give their name, they dont have to appear in court, and they may be eligible for a cash reward.

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters who have neglected to purchase their permits for Nebraskas 2005 deer season may still purchase permits, within permit limits, in units where permits remain.

Permits are sold on a first-come, first-served basis both online at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commissions web site at www.outdoornebraska.org, and over the counter from Commission offices in Alliance, Bassett, Chadron State Park (SP), Fort Robinson SP, Kearney, Niobrara SP, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha, Lincoln, Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area, and at the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium. Completed application forms will also be accepted by mail to the Commissions Lincoln office at 2200 N. 33rd Street, Lincoln, 68503.

2005 Nebraska deer hunting units where permits remain and the number of permits available as of the morning of August 11 were:

Buffalo, 723 permits, 100% either sex

Buffalo Whitetail, 1,443 permits, 100% either sex

Calamus East, 1,188 permits, 40% either sex, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Calamus West, 1,512 permits, 40% either sex

Frenchman, 976 permits, 40% either sex

Frenchman Whitetail, 366 permits, 100% either sex

Keya Paha, 2,043 permits, 30% either sex, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Loup East, 1,633 permits, 50% either sex, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Loup West, 1,642 permits, 50% either sex

Missouri, 1,639 permits, 70% either sex, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Pine Ridge, 2,358 permits, 100% either sex, one bonus antlerless deer

Plains, 1,259 permits, 100% either sex, one bonus antlerless deer

Platte, 1,961 permits, 20% either sex

Platte Whitetail, 345 permits, 100% either sex

Republican Whitetail, 78 permits, 100% either sex

Sandhills, 1,690 permits, 100% either sex

Upper Platte, 1,067 permits, 100% either sex

Wahoo, 1,206 permits, 100% either sex

Youth Season, unlimited permits, 100% either sex

Statewide Archery, unlimited permits, 100% either sex

Statewide Muzzleloader, unlimited permits, 100% either sex

DeSoto October Early, 7 permits, antlerless only, bonus antlerless tag

DeSoto October Late, 55 permits, antlerless only, bonus antlerless tag

DeSoto January, special regulations apply, see 2005 Nebraska Big Game Guide

Boyer Chute December Muzzleloader Season, antlerless only, special regulations apply, see 2005 Nebraska Big Game Guide

Boyer Chute January Season, antlerless only, special regulations apply, see 2005 Nebraska Big Game Guide

Season Choice Area 1, 2,397 permits, antlerless only, one bonus antlerless tag

Season Choice Area 2, 1,428 permits, antlerless only, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Season Choice Area 8, 394 permits, antlerless only, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Season Choice Area 9, 349 permits, antlerless only, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Season Choice Area 13, 142 permits, antlerless only, antlerless mule deer prohibited

Season Choice Area 17, 492 permits, antlerless only, one bonus antlerless deer

Season Choice Area 18, 1,773 permits, antlerless only, one bonus antlerless deer

Season Choice Area 19, 669 permits, antlerless only

Season Choice Area 20, 3,867 permits, antlerless only

Season Choice Area 21, 7,483 permits, antlerless only, one bonus antlerless deer

Season Choice Area 22, 174 permits, antlerless only, one bonus antlerless deer

LINCOLN, Neb. – Classes are now forming for 14- to 17-year-olds who must successfully complete a boating safety course before operating a boat or personal watercraft in the state.

Everyone under 18 years of age who wants to operate a boat, including personal watercraft in Nebraska, must have successfully completed a boating safety course and have a valid boating safety certificate in his or her possession, according to Herb Angell, Nebraska Boating Law Administrator.

Angell says Nebraska law allows only people 18 years of age and older to operate boats, including personal watercrafts, in Nebraska waters. The only exception is for people ages 14 to 18 who have satisfactorily completed a boating safety course approved by the Commission and who have a valid boating safety certificate in their possession.

Nebraska recognizes the successful completion of certified boating safety courses in other states. It is important to note that completion of the Home Study Boating Education Course does not fulfill personal watercraft education requirements for persons under 18 years.

Here are the latest additions to the growing list of Boating Education classes scheduled across the state. For information regarding classes, contact your local Nebraska Game and Parks Commission office or check on the Boating page at www.outdoornebraska.org. Additional information will be posted as it is received, so check back often to learn about new classes forming in your area.

Newly scheduled classes include:

August 17 and 18 – 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Lincoln

Hunter Education Building, Nebraska State Fair Park, to register contact: Darlene at Nebraska Game & Parks Commission, 402- 471-5462, $10 registration fee.