Nebraska Game and Parks – Page 3 – North Platte Post Archive

Seven Interstate 80 Lakes in Lincoln County Slated for Angler Access Improvements

Posted on October 10, 2014

Anglers will enjoy improved access at seven I80 Lakes in Lincoln County. The lakes slated for improvements are Birdwood, Hershey, Fremont Slough, West Maxwell, West Brady, Brady and West Gothenburg. The old borrow pits constructed at the same time as the interstate reside on Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) owned and managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

These lakes provide valuable and productive fisheries for local citizens and interstate travelers alike with locations adjacent to the interstate.

The projects include the development of angler access pads to enhance fishing for bank anglers, some will be handicap accessible. The angler access pads will be constructed perpendicular to the shoreline extending approximately 25 feet providing improved access to deeper waters clear of trees and obstructions. The construction of paved boat ramps will be included at each of the lakes, improving existing launch sites for boat anglers.

Improvements are planned to begin mid-October at Birdwood Lake west of North Platte, construction will move to Hershey WMA Lake before continuing east to the other five lakes. Construction will be done by Jeffres Excavating of Burwell. Jeffres has completed several aquatic habitat reconstruction projects in the past.

The I-80 Lakes will remain open during most of the construction; however as construction gets underway, large portions of each lake will be closed. Construction activity will be staggered working with winter weather and project management. The projects are expected to be complete by summer 2015.

The improvements were made possible by the Nebraska Game and Park’s Aquatic Habitat and Angler Access Programs funded by the purchase of fishing permits and partially with Federal Sportfish Restoration Program funds collected through a tax on fishing equipment and motorboat fuel.

Two Deer Hunting Workshops Scheduled

Posted on October 9, 2014October 8, 2014

LINCOLN – Prepare for the upcoming firearm deer seasons by attending one of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s two deer hunting workshops this month.

The free workshops will be held Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. at the Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln and Oct. 29 at 6:30 p.m. at the Chalco Hills Natural Resources Center in Omaha.

Both workshops are open to anyone interested in deer hunting, regardless of skill level. Game and Parks specialists will discuss strategies, equipment, biology, techniques and other topics that should increase the success and enjoyment of a hunt.

Space is limited, so early registration is required. Register at HuntSafeNebraska.com. For more information, contact Aaron Hershberger at402-471-6144 or [email protected].

Special Deer Hunts at Mahoney SP, Platte River SP, Schramm Park SRA

Posted on October 8, 2014

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is offering special antlerless deer hunting opportunities within Eugene T. Mahoney and Platte River state parks (SP), as well as Schramm Park State Recreation Area (SRA).

Successful applicants will be issued a special access permit that allows them to hunt antlerless deer in designated areas of a park on certain dates, using specific equipment. Successful applicants and interested alternates must attend an orientation session in order to receive the access permit.

Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted through 5 p.m. on Oct. 31. If more applications are received than can be accommodated, a drawing will be held Nov. 5.

Hunters may obtain an application at OutdoorNebraska.org or by calling Mahoney SP at 402-944-2523, ext. 7122, Platte River SP at 402-234-2217, Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium at 402-332-3901 or the Lincoln district Game and Parks office at 402-471-5597. Individual, mentor and buddy applications are available.
Legal equipment at Mahoney and Platte River state parks are archery and muzzleloaders. The legal equipment at Schramm Park SRA is archery.

In addition to the appropriate deer permit and habitat stamp, hunters must have the access permit, as well as a park entry permit for each vehicle entering the park.

The following are the hunting opportunities, with park, legal equipment and dates:

Mahoney SP, Platte River SP – archery, Dec. 1-4, Dec. 8-11, Dec. 15-18

Mahoney SP, Platte River SP – muzzleloader, Jan. 5-8, Jan. 12-15

Schramm Park SRA – archery, Dec. 1-4, Dec. 8-11, Dec. 15-18, Jan. 5-8, Jan. 12-15

Successful applicants will be assigned a hunting period at a park, according to their preference, and they will be assigned to zones or tree stands. Hunting sites for the disabled hunters will be available at Mahoney SP.

Only antlerless deer will be allowed for harvest. Appropriate deer permits for archery hunters are: statewide archery, antlerless-only Season Choice Wahoo or statewide youth. Muzzleloader hunters must have either an antlerless-only Season Choice Wahoo or a statewide youth permit. Some permits are limited and may sell out prior to these park hunts.

Orientation sessions will be Nov. 25 at Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium for archers andDec. 16 for muzzleloaders. Both begin at 7 p.m. For more information, contact the Lincoln district office or the parks.

Two More Trout Family Fishing Events Scheduled

Posted on October 8, 2014

LINCOLN – Lakes in Seward and Broken Bow have been added to the list of sites that will host Trout Family Fishing events across Nebraska in October. These events are perfect for families and inexperienced anglers who want to learn more about fishing.

Each body of water will be stocked with catchable-size trout before the event. Loaner fishing equipment, bait and instruction will be available.

The Trout Family Fishing schedule is as follows (times are 4:30-6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

Oct. 19 – Scottsbluff zoo pond, 4-6 p.m.; Oct. 21 – Independence Landing, Seward; Lake Halleck, Papillion; Oct. 22 – Melham Park Lake, Broken Bow; Oct. 23 – Holmes Lake, Lincoln; Oct. 24 – North Park Lake, Holdrege; Oct. 25 – Plum Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Oct. 28 – Steinhart Park Pond, Nebraska City; Windmill State Recreation Area Lake No. 2, Gibbon; Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course pond, Curtis; Oct. 30 – Rotary Club Lake, Auburn; Yanney Park Lake, Kearney

Trout Family Fishing Events Scheduled Across State

Posted on October 3, 2014

LINCOLN – Young and inexperienced anglers are invited to explore the fun of fishing in October at a series of Trout Family Fishing events across Nebraska.

Rods and reels, hooks, bobbers, weights and worms are all anglers will need to start catching rainbow trout. All of that equipment and bait will be loaned for free. Volunteer instructors will be on hand to assist anglers.

Each body of water will be stocked with catchable-size trout before the event. Anglers ages 16 and older must have a valid Nebraska fishing license. Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.

The Trout Family Fishing schedule is as follows (times are 4:30-6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted):

Oct. 19 – Scottsbluff zoo pond, 4-6 p.m.; Oct. 21 – Lake Halleck, Papillion; Oct. 23– Holmes Lake, Lincoln; Oct. 24 – North Park Lake, Holdrege, 4:30-6:30 p.m.;Oct. 25 – Plumb Creek Park Lake, Lexington, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Oct. 28 – Steinhart Park Pond, Nebraska City; Windmill State Recreation Area Lake No. 2, Gibbon; Arrowhead Meadows Golf Course pond, Curtis; Oct. 30 – Rotary Club Lake, Auburn; Yanney Park Lake, Kearney

Family Fishing Night in Broken Bow on Sept. 11

Posted on September 3, 2014

LINCOLN – Anglers, especially young and inexperienced ones, are invited to attend Family Fishing Night in Broken Bow on Sept. 11.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host the event from 6-8 p.m. at Melham Park Pond. The agency will stock the pond with 300 catchable-size channel catfish just prior to the event.

Rods and reels, as well as bait and fishing instruction, will be available. All fishing permits and regulations apply.

Family Fishing Night is an opportunity for people of all ages who have never fished or have not fished in years to learn and enjoy the activity.

Lake Helen to Undergo Lake Rehabilitation

Posted on September 3, 2014

Lake Helen in Gothenburg has been chosen for lake rehabilitation. The lake previously had frequent fish kill events and poor water quality due to shallow water depths and high amounts of phosphorous contaminating the lake.

Myers Construction of Broken Bow will start the lake rehabilitation this week with construction to continue through June, 2015.

The project will involve deepening the lake for improved habitat, adding underwater rock shoals for habitat diversity, a new boat ramp with floating dock, an ADA fishing pad and a fish screen structure to keep unwanted species from entering the lake from the canal. The lake is scheduled to be stocked with game fish next summer.

Financial contributors include the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Aquatic Habitat Program funded through the purchase of Aquatic Habitat Stamps, Sportfish Restoration Program funded by the purchase of fishing gear and licenses and Motorboat Access funds from the purchase of boating gear along with the City of Gothenburg and the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Small-Bore Silhouette Championships Set for Sept. 27

Posted on September 2, 2014

LINCOLN – The annual Nebraska High School Small-bore Silhouette Championships will be held Sept. 27 at the Pressey Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Custer County.

This free competition is open to Nebraska high, junior high and middle school students who have received a certificate verifying completion of a hunter education program. Team competition is comprised of four-person teams in school, 4-H, and open categories. Shooters are not required to compete in teams.

Contact Matthew Haumont at 308-872-2348 or [email protected] to register. Pressey WMA is located 17 miles south of Broken Bow.

Dove Season Opens in Nebraska

Posted on September 1, 2014

LINCOLN – The statewide dove hunting season opened in Nebraska on Sept. 1 and will run through Oct. 30.

The daily bag and possession limits are 15 and 45, respectively. Bag limits are for mourning, white-winged and Eurasian collared doves in aggregate.

Nebraska residents 16 years and older and all nonresidents are required to have a valid Nebraska hunting permit, habitat stamp and Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Register at nehip.com, OutdoorNebraska.org/HIP, at any Nebraska Game and Parks Commission district office or by phone at 1-877-NEHUNTS. Hunter education certification is required for some hunters.

Dove hunters who find a leg band on a dove should contact the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service banding office at 1-800-327-BAND or report it at reportband.gov. In addition, randomly selected hunters will be asked to save one wing from each dove during the first week of the season and mail the wings postage-free to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Nebraska Waterfowl, Crow Seasons May be Set

Posted on August 28, 2014

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska Game and Parks commissioners are scheduled to consider recommendations for this year’s crow and waterfowl seasons at their meeting in Grand Island on Friday.

Commissioners also will consider the department’s operating and capital improvement budget request for fiscal years 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 and a recommendation to allow hunting in some state parks and state historical parks.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, 805 Allen Drive, Grand Island.