Nebraska Game and Parks – North Platte Post Archive

Boater Education Courses in Southwest Nebraska

Posted on April 25, 2015April 25, 2015

NORTH PLATTE–Many locations across southwest Nebraska are hosting boating safety courses as part of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s statewide effort to offer boating safety courses. The courses are home-study or six-hour classroom sessions.

Nebraska law requires any motorboat operator, including drivers of personal watercraft, born after Dec. 31, 1985, to complete one of the two types of boating safety courses and be in possession of a course certificate. Operators must be 14 years old to drive motorboats and personal watercraft in Nebraska.

Option A offers all certification requirements in a six-hour classroom environment.Option B requires participants to download and study materials online before attending a three-hour review and test-out session.

Course dates across the region (all are Option B unless otherwise noted):

• April 29 & 30, Cozad (Option A)

• May 4 & 6, Imperial (Option A)

• May 6, McCook

• May 12 & 14, Ogallala (Option A)

• May 13, McCook

• May 19, Kearney

• May 20, McCook

• May 21, Grand Island

• May 23, North Platte

• May 23, Lake McConaughy

• June 2, North Platte

• June 11, Kearney

• June 13, Lake McConaughy

• June 18, Grand Island

• June 27, Lake McConaughy

• July 1, Kearney

• July 1, North Platte

• July 4, Lake McConaughy

• July 8, Grand Island

• July 18, Lake McConaughy

• Aug. 1, Lake McConaughy

• Aug. 4, North Platte

To attend a boating safety course in Grand Island or Kearney, register with Daryl Teter at[email protected] or (308)440-1863. To attend a course in Ogallala/Lake McConaughy, register with Scott Eveland at [email protected] or 308-289-0017. To attend a course in North Platte, register with Rachelle Allbery at 308-539-1895or [email protected]. For McCook, register with Mid Plains Community College at 308-345-1823. For Cozad, register with Brian at 308-784-2808. For Broken Bow, register with Mid Plains Community College at 308-872-5259. For Imperial, Mid Plains Community College at 308-882-5972.

Additional classes will be added throughout the spring. For the latest class listings, visit the Boating Education calendar at www.BoatSafeNebraska.org.

A $10 fee applies to most classes. For more information on Nebraska boating safety, please visit www.BoatSafeNebraska.org.

Nebraska Archery Paddlefish Applications Period Ending

Posted on April 12, 2015April 12, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The last day to apply for a Nebraska archery paddlefish permit for the July 11-Aug. 9 season is Tuesday.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says archery paddlefish permits are issued through a preference system. An applicant will receive a point if he or she is unsuccessful in being awarded a permit. Anyone who doesn’t apply at least once during five consecutive years will lose all points.

Permits remaining following the first drawing will be sold beginning at 1 p.m. Central on June 1. Applicants must be at least 12 by the second Saturday in July. A person may have no more than two archery paddlefish permits per year.

Permits cost $21 for residents and $41 for nonresidents, including issuing fees.

Nebraska Workers begin Collection of Walleye Fish Eggs

Posted on April 4, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska officials have begun collecting walleye eggs to help stock Nebraska waters with the fish.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says staffers began collecting walleyes Monday night at Sherman Reservoir, when the dam is closed. It also plans to collect adult, spawning walleyes in Merritt Reservoir and Lake McConaughy in April, based on the results of collection efforts at Sherman Reservoir.

Anglers and boaters must avoid Game and Parks boats and nets at all three reservoirs.

Commission plans to collect approximately 76 million eggs to meet walleye stocking requests for Nebraska waters this year.

Turkey Hunting Workshops Scheduled Across Nebraska

Posted on February 28, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has scheduled six spring turkey hunting workshops to help prepare hunters for the upcoming seasons.

The free, two-hour workshops are open to all turkey hunters. The Game and Parks specialists will discuss strategies, equipment and biology and provide tips on becoming successful turkey hunters.

The workshops will take place March 7 near Gretna, March 17 in Lincoln, March 18 in Grand Island and Chadron, March 19 in North Platte and March 28 in Norfolk.

Go online at HuntSafeNebraska.org for details and to register. Registration is required.

Nebraska Sets Training for Youth Fishing Instructors

Posted on February 8, 2015

GRETNA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has scheduled training and certification for youth fishing instructors.

The event is scheduled to run from 9 a.m. to noon on March 7 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, 21502 W. Nebraska Highway 31, in Gretna.

The volunteer instructors will have access to Game and Parks’ loaner fishing equipment and educational materials for events. They also will receive program incentives.

To reserve a spot for the training and certification, contact Lindsey Chizinski at 402-471-5591 or [email protected].

Nebraska Agency Approves Grants for Outdoor Projects

Posted on January 24, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has approved several grants for various outdoor recreation projects.

The 2015 Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program provides funding for community outdoor recreation projects across the state. The program provides reimbursable matching grants for 50 percent of project costs.

Among the grants approved last week were one for $30,000 to build three handicapped-accessible fishing piers in Lexington and another for $100,000 to replace an existing playground and walkways in Omaha.

The commission also approved $84,750 to build a new splash pad in Firth, $50,000 to renovate a playground in Gordon, $50,000 to renovate a playground, repair a shelter and other amenities in Lincoln and $38,600 to acquire a lot and develop recreational vehicle camping pads in Bloomfield.

Starting Monday, Nebraska Spring Turkey Permits Available

Posted on January 10, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission says spring turkey hunting permits will be available starting Monday.

The 2015 permit prices, not including issuing fees, are resident turkey, $23; nonresident turkey, $95; and resident and nonresident youth turkey, $5. Youth permits are for hunters who are under age 16 on the opening day of the youth archery season. Other than residents under age 16, turkey hunters must have a Nebraska habitat stamp.

Visit OutdoorNebraska.org or Game and Parks permitting offices to buy the permits.

The youth and regular archery seasons open March 25, while youth shotgun season opens April 11 and the regular shotgun season on April 18. All seasons close May 31.

Nebraska Agency to Consider Grants for Outdoor Recreation

Posted on January 10, 2015

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will consider grant award recommendations for various outdoor recreation projects at a meeting next week in Lincoln.

The 2015 Land and Water Conservation Fund Stateside Assistance Program provides funding for community outdoor recreation projects across the state. Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, ball fields, soccer fields, picnic facilities, playgrounds, park acquisition and development, shelter houses and trails. The program provides reimbursable matching grants for 50 percent of project costs.

Among the recommendations commission staff members are expected to make on Thursday will be $30,000 to build three handicapped-accessible fishing piers in Lexington, $100,000 to replace an existing playground and walkways in Omaha, and $84,750 to build a new splash pad in Firth.

Nebraska Agency sets Workshop on Trophy Scoring

Posted on December 27, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has scheduled a Lincoln workshop on how to score a hunting trophy.

The free workshop is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 at the Game and Parks Outdoor Recreation Center.

Randy Stutheit will cover the basics of measuring typical and nontypical whitetail and mule deer and antelope. Stutheit is Nebraska big game records coordinator and a certified Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young Club scorer.

Participants may bring their own trophies to measure.

The workshop is limited to 20 participants. Go online at http://bit.ly/141BOUB to register.

Nebraska Agency Sets Meetings on Big-Game Issues

Posted on November 29, 2014

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is inviting hunters and landowners to discuss big-game issues at meetings with commission officials.

Staff biologists will explain and take questions on several topics, including deer management and damage.

All meetings begin at 7 p.m.

Meetings are set for Dec. 9 at Chadron State College in Chadron; Dec. 10 at Scheels at Village Point Plaza in Omaha; Dec. 11 at the Nemaha County Fairgrounds 4-H building in Auburn; Dec. 15 in Ord at the Valley County Extension building at the fairgrounds and at the Red Willow County Fairgrounds community building in McCook; Dec. 16 at the Eagles Club in Oshkosh; Dec. 17 at the Yanney Heritage Park Environmental Resource Center in Kearney; and Dec. 18 at the Isaak Walton League lodge in Columbus.