Nebraska Games &
Parks News
Game and Parks Outdoor
Calendar for June
LINCOLN, Neb. – June is a great
month to be outdoors in Nebraska. Fishing is always good in June
as walleye fishing turns on in reservoirs across the state,
walleye, sauger and smallmouth bass fishing is good in the
Missouri River, and largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish
provide exciting action in lakes and ponds, the carp spawn peaks
around Memorial Day weekend giving both anglers and archers the
chance to harvest some fish.
The peak of the pheasant hatch
occurs in early June, young Canada geese can be seen swimming with
their parents on lakes and ponds, colorful wildflowers bloom, and
songbirds celebrate each day with song. The young of all species
still stick pretty close to mom for protection and to learn the
skills they’ll need for survival when they are on their own in
just a few short months.
But, to see the new generations
of wildlife, to feel damp, cool grains of sand work their way
between you toes and to enjoy the pleasant tingle of the warm sun
on your skin prior to the onset of blistering summer temperatures,
you have to be outdoors experiencing first- hand the state’s
beauty and abundant recreational activities.
There is a lot going on in June
and sometimes things just slide by without warning and you miss
something you really wanted to do or attend. To keep that from
happening, here are some outdoor activities scheduled during June
that we’re sure you will want to add to your personal calendar:
June 2 – Trails Day, volunteers
will help with trail restoration at Indian Cave State Park (SP)
near Shubert and other trail-enhancing projects at several
locations across the state
June 2 – Carp fishing tournament,
Calamus State Recreation Area (SRA) near Burwell, rod and reel,
and bow and arrow divisions
June 2-3 – Black powder
demonstrations at Indian Cave SP near Shubert
June 2-3 – Living history event
at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP) at Fort Calhoun,
volunteers portray life at 1820s military fort
June 2-3 – Rock Creek Trail Days
at Rock Creek Station SHP near Fairbury, historical
interpretations and buffalo stew cookout.
June 8 - 10 – Intertribal
Gathering at Fort Robinson SP near Crawford
June 9 – Swimming pool at
Niobrara SP opens
June 11 – Buy big game permits,
beginning at 1 p.m. CST, residents and nonresidents may purchase
“buy” unit and any other remaining firearm, youth, season choice,
archery, or muzzleloader deer permits; residents and nonresidents
may purchase any remaining antelope permits; and residents and
resident landowners may purchase any remaining elk permits
June 13 – Pony Express Re-ride at
Fort Kearny SHP
June 15-16 – Ash Hollow Pageant,
at Ash Hollow SHP near Lewellen
June 16 – 86th Chadron SP
Anniversary, 85-cent lunches, free paddleboat rides, horse shoe
tournament, archery card shoot
June 16-17 – Nebraska Walleye
Association fishing tournament at Lake McConaughy SRA near
Ogallala
June 16-17 -- Father’s Day Fossil
Festival at Ponca SP
June 17 – Junior Optimist fishing
tournament at Lake McConaughy SRA near Ogallala
June 17 – Father’s Day Buffet at
Walter Scott Lodge, Platte River SP, near Louisville
June 17 – Father’s Day Fish Fry
at Ponca SP (reservations required)
June 18 - 24 – Equestrian
vaulting camp and clinic at Fort Robinson SP near Crawford
June 22-23 – Days of ‘56 Rodeo at
Ponca SP
June 23 – Very Important Kid’s
Day at Victoria Springs SRA near Anselmo, kids 15 and younger
welcome to join in activities, contests, games.
June 23-24 – Colorado Walleye
Association fishing tournament Lake McConaughy SRA near Ogallala
June 24 – Sod House Sunday at
Arthur Bowring Sandhills Ranch SHP near Merriman, an annual event
featuring nondenominational church service, team penning and
sorting contests, other events
June 30 - July 1 – Living history
event, volunteers portray life at 1820s military fort, at Fort
Atkinson SHP at Fort Calhoun
June 30 – Fort Kearny Stampede
Days, at Fort Kearny SHP, near Kearney
More information about these
events and locations can be found at the Commission’s Web site at
www.OutdoorNebraska.org
There’s Still Time for Turkey
Hunters to Fill Their Permits
Nebraska’s 2007 spring turkey hunting
seasons will end Sunday, May 20, but while time is running out,
archers and shotgun hunters who haven’t taken their birds still
may buy permits. Plenty of turkeys are available and the toms are
actively seeking hens and responding to hunters’ calls.
This will be another record year of permit
sales and harvest. There have been 33,488 permits (25,189 shotgun,
6,815 archery and 1,484 youth) issued this year and a record
harvest of more than 18,000 birds is expected. For the first time,
hunters had the opportunity to take three birds and it would seem
that many took advantage as permit sales increased more than 3,000
from 2006. “We had the normal weather extremes, but the long
season should have allowed most hunters ample opportunity to go
afield,” said Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Big Game Program
Manager Kit Hams. “If we get another warm dry nesting season, the
string of record-breaking seasons likely will continue.”
The Commission will send out e-mail
surveys to hunters who provided e-mail addresses when they bought
permits. The surveys should go out by mid-June and will provide
hunters the opportunity to tell the Commission about their hunt
and to provide it with harvest and opinion data that will be used
in making future turkey season recommendations.
Hunters are urged to respond to the survey
and to keep their e-mail addresses updated each time they buy
permits online. Survey results will be posted on the Commission’s
Web site, www.OutdoorNebraska.org.
Anyone 12 years of age or older by the
date the season opens are eligible to hunt turkeys in Nebraska.
Permits cost $21 for residents and $86 for
nonresidents. A Habitat Stamp ($13) is required for all resident
turkey hunters age 16 and older and for all nonresident hunters.
Turkey permits can be purchased at
Commission offices in Alliance, Bassett, Norfolk, North Platte,
Omaha, Lincoln and the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium near Gretna, as well as
on the Commission’s Web site. Applications that are mailed should
be sent to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, P.O. Box 30370,
Lincoln, NE 68503.
Ten Exciting Things to Do With
Your Family This Summer
If you are looking for interesting and
exciting outdoor activities for summer fun with the family this
year, tape this list of suggestions from the Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission on your refrigerator door and see how many you
can have checked off when the children return to school next fall.
1) Canoe the Niobrara River and visit
Smith Falls State Park (SP), home of Nebraska’s highest waterfall.
Smith Falls SP is located 18 miles east of Valentine on the
Niobrara River.
2) Spend the night camping in a tent at a
state recreation area or wildlife management area.
3) Take the family fishing during the
bluegill spawn from mid-May to mid-June.
4) Attend Rock Creek Days celebration at
Rock Creek Station State Historical Park (SHP), June 2-3, see
where James Butler (Wild Bill) Hickok shot David McCanles in 1861,
witness re-enactments of the Pony Express riders carrying the
mail, and see the deep wagon ruts of the Oregon Trail. Rock Creek
Station SHP is located about 5 miles southeast of Fairbury.
5) Visit Indian Cave State Park and hike
or backpack along the 22 miles of trails that wind through rugged
hardwood studded bluffs along the Missouri River. Indian Cave SP
is located 10 miles south of Brownville and 5 miles east.
6) Visit Fort Robinson State Park to see
the herds of buffalo and longhorn cattle, see the site of the
Cheyenne Outbreak of 1879 when almost 150 Cheyenne broke out of
the barracks where they had been imprisoned, killed soldiers and
headed up the White River to hide in the Pine Ridge’s rugged
buttes, and the guard house where Sioux warrior Crazy Horse
received a fatal stab wound inflicted by a soldier’s bayonet in
1877. Fort Robinson SP is located just west of Crawford.
7) Bike a section of the Cowboy Trail
between Norfolk and Ainsworth.
8) Try your hand at trout fishing at Pine
Glen or Long Pine wildlife management areas along Long Pine Creek
near Long Pine, or at Verdigre Creek north of Royal.
9) Visit the Rhino Barn at Ashfall Fossil
Beds State Historical Park between Orchard and Royal, and see
skeletons of prehistoric animals that were entombed there by
volcanic ash almost 12 million years ago. Ashfall Fossil Beds SHP
is located 6 miles north of U.S. Highway 20 between Royal and
Orchard.
10) Visit the Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium at
Schramm Park State Recreation Area. The Aquarium houses 12 viewing
tanks displaying native Nebraska fish and those introduced into
the state by human hands. There is a large terrarium and films and
slide programs are shown in the modern theater. Ak-Sar-Ben
Aquarium is located about 6 miles south of Interstate 80 exit 432.
Schramm Park SRA is open 24/7, but the Aquarium’ summer hours are
10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends and
holidays. There is a nominal adult admission charge.
Go to the Commission’s Web site at
www.OutdoorNebraska.org for more information about each of these
areas.
Mandatory Boating Education
Classes Set for 14- to 17-Year-Olds
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 watercraft, 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
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:
May 19 -- 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Nebraska
Watersports, 329 S. Washington St., Papillion, to register contact
Jean Goble, (402) 397-2916 or e-mail njgoble@tconl.com, $10
registration fee, bring a sack lunch or lunch money.
May 22 and 24 -- 6 p.m.-9 p.m., Western
Nebraska Regional Airport Terminal Conference Room, 250023 Airport
Terminal St., Scottsbluff, to register contact Rick Snyder, (308)
641- 0294, $10 registration fee.
June 1 – 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Upper Loup NRD
Office, 39252 Nebraska Highway 2, Thedford, to register contact
NRD Office, (308) 645-2250, $5 registration fee includes lunch
which will be provided.
June 20 and 21 – 6 p.m.- 9 p.m., Western
Nebraska Regional Airport Terminal Conference Room, 250023 Airport
Terminal St., Scottsbluff, to register contact Rick Snyder (308)
641-0294, $10 registration fee.
