Volume 92, Issue 7, 2014
August-September 2014
- Identifier:
- nela.2014_092_07
- Title:
- Volume 92, Issue 7, 2014
- Issue Name:
- August-September 2014
- Date Issued:
- 2014-08-01
- year:
- 2014
- Season:
- Summer
- PDF filename:
- NL_92.07_2014_Aug_Sep_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 092
- issue:
- 07
- number:
- 092.07
- Decade:
- 2010s
- edition:
- Special Issue
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Extracted Text:
-
Water cascades over
Smith Falls at the state park of
the same name along the
Niobrara River near Valentine.
Photo by Eric Fowler
NEBRASKAland
Anyone who has spent even a small amount of time in
Nebraska understands its beauty. From the badlands
through the Sandhills to the Missouri River bluffs,
our state exemplifies diversity at every turn.
Here in this collector’s edition the photographers
at NEBRASKAland Magazine and this year’s photo
contest winners share their own views of the
Cornhusker State’s unique combination of landscapes
and wildlife. Their descriptions are sure to make
any viewer ready to set off on a rewarding Nebraska
outdoor adventure during any season of the year.
Published by the
NebraskalandMagazine.com
$9.95
NebraskalandMagazine.com
OutdoorNebraska.org
Sponsored by
B ea u tifu l
N eb ra sk a
A C o lle c to r ’s E di tio n
Plus the 2 0 1 4 N E B R A S K A la nd M a g a z ine Pho to C o ntes t Wi nners
B eau tifu l
N eb rask a
A C o l le c to r ’s E di tio n
NEBRASKAland Magazine
Volume 92, Number 7, August-September 2014
Published monthly except for combined January-February and August-September issues by
the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd Street, Lincoln, NE 68503.
Copyright 2014 by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. All rights reserved.
ISSN: 0028-1964
Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska and additional mailing offices.
POSTMASTER: Send all address changes to NEBRASKAland Magazine,
P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.
Cover: Sandhill cranes dance on the Platte River at Martin’s Reach Wildlife Management Area near Alda.
Photo by Eric Fowler
Left: Low clouds obscure the ridgetops above a road that runs through the Pine Ridge Ranger District of
the Nebraska National Forest south of Chadron on a rainy summer day.
Photo by Eric Fowler
Above: A mallard flies along the icy Platte River between Bridgeport and Broadwater.
Photo by Justin Haag
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Contents
Introduction ........................................................................... 6
Beautiful Nebraska ................................................................ 8
2014 NEBRASKAland Magazine Photo Contest ............82
Best of Show ..................................................................................................82
Mammals .................................................................................................84
Flora .........................................................................................................88
Landscapes ..............................................................................................90
Reptiles, Amphibians and Invertebrates..............................................94
Outdoor Recreation ...............................................................................96
Birds .........................................................................................................98
Advertising .........................................................................102
Staff ......................................................................................118
A white-tailed deer fawn walks through a grassland along
Beaver Creek at the Olson Nature Preserve near Albion.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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I nt ro d u c t i o n
Not one of Nebraska’s 77,000 square miles of land and
water features an ocean or mountain view. For many, this
is the excuse for staying on Interstate 80 and getting in
and out of our state as quickly as possible. But those of
us who live here, and a few regular visitors, know better.
We’ve been to the Sandhills in spring, floated the Niobrara
River in the summer, watched the leaves change along the
Missouri River in autumn, and witnessed snow blanket the
Pine Ridge in winter. We know that regardless of how many
times we’ve taken an alternate route and seen the world
from a different gravel road, we are seldom surprised when
we find another spectacular view.
You’re never quite sure what you’re going to see in the
Great Plains. Which is why NEBRASKAland wanted this
edition to reveal some of those places, and the species
inhabiting those places: to not only confirm this state’s
beauty but also encourage you to slow down and take a
detour down a dirt road during your travels.
For we see these NEBRASKAland photos, including the
winners of our photo contest starting on page 82, as a
starting point for a list of places you can spend your free
time in our great outdoors. But there’s no way we could
cover it all. So we urge you to soak in each landscape and
every species in this book and then place your copy on the
coffee table and return only after seeing that Nebraska scene
with your own eyes.
Then you’ll understand why it’s okay that you can’t hear
the ocean as the sun sets, as long as you have a field of
sunflowers or bluestem blowing in a prairie wind nearby.
Sunflowers lunge toward the
light at Wehrspann Wetland
in southwest Omaha.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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Bea ut if ul
Neb r a s k a
An angler who rose before the sun dips his
line in Wagon Train Lake near Hickman on
a peaceful July morning.
Photo by Eric Fowler
The violet nectar lines contrast with the pinkish white petals of cobaea
penstemon growing at Rock Glen Wildlife Management Area near Fairbury.
Located adjacent to Rock Creek Station State Historical Park, the area is
comprised of 700 acres of native tallgrass prairie and oak draws.
Photo by Eric Fowler
A snag is silhouetted against the predawn sky near Valentine.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
A pair of mallards alight on a warm-water slough one cold
winter morning along the Platte River near Gretna.
Photo by Eric Fowler
Coyotes, such as this one seen near Wood River,
have a larger range than any other North American
animal. Constant adapters, coyotes are generalist
predators with no specific feeding patterns that can
hybridize with dogs, gray wolves and red wolves.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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Black-eyed susan, including these at the Nature Conservancy’s Dahms Tract
near Wood River, is a relatively short-lived plant that thrives best in areas
where dominant prairie grasses have been weakened. As a result, it is found
scattered across many prairies but can quickly increase in abundance in years
following mowing, grazing or drought.
Photo by Chris Helzer
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The North American porcupine, such as this one near Brady,
has a coat of large, stiff hairs called quills that detach easily
from the skin when touched. The tip of each quill is adorned
with several hundred barbs that can penetrate a predator’s
skin easily, but once embedded the barbs resist removal. New
quills will grow to replace any that are lost.
Photo by Julie Geiser
Dragonflies, such as this one near Pawnee City, are
incredibly agile aerial predators able to dart quickly after
their prey. Researchers are beginning to learn more about
the long seasonal migrations made by certain dragonfly
species. Some can even fly across oceans.
Photo by Chris Helzer
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As the air warms, ice expands and breaks into pieces on the
shoreline at Lake Maloney State Recreation Area near North Platte.
Photo by Julie Geiser
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Tree swallows nest in tree cavities and will readily take up residence
in nest boxes. While caring for young and eggs, adults are known to
dive-bomb intruders – including humans – to drive them away.
Photo by Jenny Nguyen
From late September to Halloween night, Vala’s Pumpkin Patch near
Gretna hosts its annual festival, featuring train rides, live shows, haunted
houses, corn mazes and, of course, pumpkin picking.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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The courtship flights of pintail drakes, like this one on the
Platte River near Lexington, are a common sight in spring, as
the birds compete to gain the favor of hens for the upcoming
nesting season.
Photo by Doug Steinke
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Toadstool Geologic Park, near Harrison, derives its name from the sandstone rocks
balanced on narrow pedestals throughout the area.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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The sun sets over the trees at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area,
a location of nearly 300 acres of water in 20 sandpit lakes featuring
both tent and RV camping.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
This plains garter snake, photographed in Sarpy County,
eats worms, amphibians, fish and ground-nesting birds.
Females, such as this one, are bigger than males to
improve reproductive capacity and give birth to live young.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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The gobble of a tom turkey, including this one
near South Bend, can be heard from more than
a mile away. When he is excited or distressed, a
tom’s head and snood, the flap of skin dangling
over the bird’s beak, will change colors,
including red, white and blue.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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Golden asters, plains sunflowers, yuccas and green grass decorate the late
summer landscape in the Nebraska National Forest south of Whitney.
Photo by Justin Haag
A pair of bighorn sheep rams compete for dominance
north of Harrison. The hierarchy of rams is determined
by size, strength and mass, as they square off in brawls
during the pre-rut. Rams generally increase rank each
year and peak in weight at age 7-8.
Photo by Justin Haag
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The Calamus River spreads out and slows down
as it winds through the upper end of Calamus
Reservoir northwest of Burwell.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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A young swift fox explores the world outside its den north of
Scottsbluff. Swift fox, which grow to be just under two feet long,
are native to the shortgrass prairies in western Nebraska.
Photo by Justin Haag
An aspen tree is illuminated by the sun as it rises over the
edge of the Niobrara River Valley at Smith Falls State Park
near Valentine. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission land
managers are working on a project to improve the health of
aspen groves and woodlands along the river.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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Blake Bowman of Benedict casts into the glassy water at
Alexandria State Recreation Area near Alexandria.
Photo by Eric Fowler
Raindrops cover sumac bushes in the Bessey Ranger District
of the Nebraska National Forest near Halsey. A harbinger of
fall, sumac begins to turn bright red in September.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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Cattle trails radiate out from
a windmill and stock tank into a
Sandhills pasture north of Hershey.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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A raccoon scurries along the bank of a Platte River slough
near Ashland. Nocturnal by nature, raccoons are opportunistic
feeders who have adapted to both urban and rural settings
throughout the country.
Photo by Eric Fowler
Stars fill the sky at Summit Lake State
Recreation Area near Tekamah.
Photo by Bobbi Anderson
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Steam fog rises among sandhill cranes roosting on the Platte River at
Martin’s Reach Wildlife Management Area near Alda. For overnight
protection, cranes have guards who watch the nearby banks for predators.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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Morning sun shines through the vane of the windmill at
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park near Ashland, one of the many
scenic views to witness at Nebraska’s most visited state park.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
Bruce Switzer and Ronny Morgan ride through a foggy Sandhills
pasture near Burwell on their way to a fall roundup.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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A jumping spider captures a fly at Lincoln
Creek Prairie in Aurora. When hunting, the
jumping spider first attaches a safety line of
silk at the launch point, then creeps close to
the prey and makes one leap to capture.
Photo by Chris Helzer
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A lesser earless lizard crawls across the ground at the
Bessey Ranger District in the Nebraska National Forest.
The lizard gets its common name because they have
no external ear opening and the long, spindly toes
on its back feet are well-adapted to running on loose
sand. The lizard pictured is a female, as evidenced by
her swollen abdomen and orange coloration. Pregnant
females take on this orange color as a signal to lesser
earless males.
Photo by Eric Fowler
A Pine Ridge hilltop near Crawford provides a
perfect vantage point to watch the moon rise over
Whitney Lake on a December evening.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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Elk move through a pasture southwest of
Lewellen on a December evening. While they
spend most of their time in the North Platte
Riverbottom and adjacent canyons, in the dead
of winter elk in this area will walk two miles or
more to feed in wheat fields on the table lands
south of the river.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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On a cool October morning fog rises from Big Alkali Lake
south of Valentine. Hardstem bulrush covers an exposed
sandbar in the foreground.
Photo by Gerry Steinauer
An eastern fox squirrel greets its albino nest
mate as it emerges from the cavity of a tree
near Aurora.
Photo by Gerry Steinauer
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The American bullfrog, such as this one at Lewis & Clark
State Recreation Area near Crofton, is the largest frog
native to North America. Because a bullfrog will eat
anything it can fit in its mouth, introductions throughout
the country have been highly detrimental to some
animal populations.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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The kitchen of the reconstructed 1874 Cavalry Barracks at
Fort Robinson State Park is furnished as it would have
appeared at the time when bread was made in the post bakery
and distributed to the company cooks.
Photo by Amy Kucera
A rooster pheasant runs through an equally colorful,
dew-soaked mix of grasses after drying itself along a
roadside near Calamus Reservoir State Recreation Area
northwest of Burwell on an October morning.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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This tornado formed on
June 14, 2014, near Wilcox,
building up just east of a
farmstead then traveling
north and missing another
farm before dissipating.
Photo by Chris Sheen
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Morning fog rises over Branched Oak State Recreation Area
near Raymond on a cool August morning.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
Narrowleaf beardtongue grows among prairie grasses on the
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. One of several penstemons
native to Nebraska, this species is most commonly found in the
Sandhills and further east in northern Nebraska.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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The sun’s rays streak through morning fog along the
Niobrara River at Chat Canyon Wildlife Management
Area on a September morning. Located south of
Nenzel, the 420-acre area acquired by the Game and
Parks Commission this year includes two miles of the
Niobrara, pine forest, wetlands and Sandhills prairie.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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Taillights glow at dusk following a rainstorm on the scenic road through Smiley Canyon at Fort
Robinson State Park southwest of Crawford.
Photo by Amy Kucera
A bumblebee clings to thick-spike gayfeather at
Branched Oak Wildlife Management Area near Raymond.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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Ribbons of water wind through a
bottomland forest ablaze with fall
color along the North Platte River
west of Lewellen.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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The open, brightly colored mouths of these European starling
nestlings leave no doubt food is desired and where it should
be delivered. The inside of some bird species’ mouths will
change color depending on their need.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
Fall colors, including the reds in oak leaves like these at Schramm
Park State Recreation Area near Gretna, are expressed through
two groups of pigments: the yellows and oranges in carotene
and the reds and purples of anthocyancins. As daylight dwindles
the chlorophyll fades, allowing the yellow carotenoids to show
through. Anthocyancin reds intensify when the leaf prepares to
fall and abscission layers form on the stalk. When the sap flow
gets restricted, the sugars manufactured in the leaves begin to
accumulate rather than move to the roots and the blazing scarlets
appear.
Photo by Jeff Kurrus
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Andrew Schlueter’s dog “Bear” eagerly leaps
off the bank of the North Platte River to begin
tracking down a mallard duck near Scottsbluff.
Photo by Doug Steinke
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On an August morning, a bison herd grazes native Sandhills prairie
grasses above the Niobrara River Valley on the Nature Conservancy’s
Niobrara Valley Preserve near Valentine.
Photo by Gerry Steinauer
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Black-tailed prairie dogs, such as this one at the Niobrara Valley
Preserve east of Valentine, have a complicated communication system
that, among other uses, helps warn of approaching predators. They
even use different sounds for different kinds of predators.
Photo by Chris Helzer
An ant climbs on leadplant
at Griffith Prairie southwest
of Kearney. Besides being
major predators, ants also eat
seeds, pollen and nectar, and
help aerate soil and recycle
nutrients. Their abundance
is staggering: the weight of a
reasonably stocked pasture of
cattle would be the same as
the ants in the same pasture.
Photo by Chris Helzer
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The sun rises over the snow-covered Red Cloud Buttes
at Fort Robinson State Park. The buttes, which have
been photographed by countless visitors, rise about
450 feet above the main park and are enjoyed by
many hikers and horseback riders.
Photo by Justin Haag
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The bright yellow flowers of hairy puccoon are easy to spot in a
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge grassland that is flush with green following
spring rains. Found statewide, the native perennial is most commonly found in
the Sandhills.
Photo by Eric Fowler
Mallards and Canada geese enjoy the warmth of a
warm-water slough on a morning when the temperature
struggles to reach zero degrees south of Grand Island.
Photo by Doug Steinke
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A male bluegill guarding its nest in a Lincoln quarry pond flares its
dorsal fins in an attempt to scare away a snorkeling photographer.
Photo by Eric Fowler
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Pho t o C o n t e s t
BEST OF SHOW
Kahne Packer and his German
shorthaired pointer anxiously
wait to set foot afield at a youth
mentor pheasant hunt at Cub
Creek Hunting in Beatrice.
Photo by Kaleb White
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MAMMALS
FIRST PLACE – White-tailed fawns walk by a stand
of snow-on-the-mountain,
a native annual, near Guide Rock.
Photo by Alan Shadduck
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MAMMALS
SECOND PLACE – Khloe, a Labrador retriever, sits in an
abandoned Volkswagen on the family farm near Ceresco.
Photo by Erik Johnson
THIRD PLACE – Red fox pups emerge from their
den near Grand Island.
Photo by Jerry Jacobs
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FLORA
FIRST PLACE – A spiderwort bloom glows purple
along a hiking trail at Schramm Park State
Recreation Area near Gretna.
Photo by Andrew Loftis
THIRD PLACE – A beetle crawls across common milkweed at Spring
Creek Prairie Audubon Center near Denton.
Photo by Gordon Warrick
SECOND PLACE – Purple coneflowers appear
pink in a field near Lincoln.
Photo by Angela Carroll
BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition • NEBRASKAland 89
LANDSCAPES
FIRST PLACE – Fireworks explode across the Bob Kerrey
Pedestrian Bridge after a home run derby at
TD Ameritrade Park in downtown Omaha.
Photo by Peter Carbonell
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LANDSCAPES
THIRD PLACE – A rainbow accompanies storm clouds during an
April shower south of Valentine.
Photo by Chris Davis
SECOND PLACE – The sun sets over a bean field
near Bennet.
Photo by Erik Johnson
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REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS AND INVERTEBRATES
SECOND PLACE – An American
rubyspot clings to a piece of grass
along the Niobrara River near Sparks.
Photo by Gordon Warrick
FIRST PLACE – A tiger swallowtail butterfly pollinates
backyard flowers in a garden in Lincoln.
Photo by Julie Halloran
THIRD PLACE – A bumblebee
pollinates flowers in
Grand Island’s Stolley Park.
Photo by Nia Karmann
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OUTDOOR RECREATION
FIRST PLACE – Brightly colored carnival rides spin
during the Cobblestone Festival in Falls City.
Photo by BJ Pedersen
SECOND PLACE – (bottom left) Nate Key and Luke
Farrar snow goose hunt in morning fog near Firth.
Photo by Erik Johnson
THIRD PLACE – An angler fishes from the pier
amidst a misty winter fog at the Sutherland
Reservoir State Recreation Area near North Platte.
Photo by Bill Kesler
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BIRDS
FIRST PLACE – American white pelicans stand in the water at
Pawnee Lake State Recreation Area near Lincoln.
Photo by Lindsay Anderson
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BIRDS
SECOND PLACE – A mallard hen and
her ducklings swim across Holmes
Lake in Lincoln.
Photo by Dale Benham
THIRD PLACE – Silhouetted red-winged blackbirds take
flight over the setting sun north of Lincoln.
Photo by Erik Johnson
Unfortunately, we were unable to present winners from the two youth
categories (ages 13-17 and 12 and under). This portion of the contest
is now re-open until September 1, and entries can be submitted at
NebraskalandMagazine.com/photocontest.
Vote for your favorite photograph among these
finalists for this year’s Reader’s Choice award at
NebraskalandMagazine.com.
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p.m.
m UN
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Students and their parents are encouraged to attend to:
Explore Career Opportunities Experience Campus
Learn More About Our 29 Programs and Two Pre-Professional Programs
Register at casnr.unl.edu/openhouse
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
103 Agricultural HallLincoln, NE 68583-0702
1-800-742-8800 ext. 2541
casnr.unl.edu casnr@unl.edu
The University of Nebraska–Lincoln is an equal opportunity educator and employer
Presents
the 2014:
Family Fun Days
August 23 & 24, 2014
Camp Witness, Long Pine, NE
Events held Sat. 9 AM to 4 PM & Sun. 10 AM to 4 PM
Bring your family, bring your friends and
make plans to visit the Nebraska Prairie
Museum in Holdrege. See the 16’ wide
buffalo mural, a life-size buffalo, a two-bearded wild turkey and a sandhill
crane. For more information about visiting the museum and the
interactive museum map of our exhibits, check out our website.
nebraskaprairie.org
308-995-5015
N. Hwy 183 Holdrege
Hours: Mon - Fri: 9 am-5 pm | Sat - Sun: 1-5 pm
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
3D Archery Course—set in
over 30+ acres of woods
5 Stand SporƟng Clays
RecreaƟonal Trout Fishing
Quick Draw CompeƟƟon
Banquet 5:00 PM Saturday
Tomahawk Hawk
Silent AucƟon Noon-6:00 Sat.
5K/10K Run/Walk—not your
typical course 7:45 AM Sat.
Youth BB Gun Shoot (Free)
Youth Archery (Free)
Live AucƟon, Guns and much,
much MORE! 6:00 PM Sat.
Community Church Service-Sun. 9 a.m.
Potluck-Sun. noon
Proceeds go to provide no-cost deer and turkey hunts to
youth with special needs or life changing illnesses. For more
informaƟon about SYC of Northern Nebraska or this event:
www.sycnebraska.com Or call (402) 273-4352
The 2014 Outdoorsman & Family Fall Field Days Event is held
at: Camp Witness, 87979 Red Wing Rd, Long Pine, NE 69217
Google Maps: Pine View Rd, Long Pine and go north 2 miles.
BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition • NEBRASKAland
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EXPERIENCE BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA
When you take the time to share the outdoors,
the unexpected rewards last a lifetime.
OutdoorNebraska.org
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
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GĚē-Ć-ĜĊĊĐ ęĎĈĐĊę ĕėĔĈĊĊĉĘ ĜĎđđ ČĔ
ęĔĜĆėĉĘ NĊćėĆĘĐĆ’Ę ĞĔĚęč
ĊĉĚĈĆęĎĔē ĕėĔČėĆĒĘ Ćēĉ čĆćĎęĆę
ĊĖĚĎĕĒĊēę ĕđĚĘ ĘęĆęĊ čĆćĎęĆę
ĕėĔČėĆĒĘ ęčĆę ćĊēĊċĎę ĊěĊėĞĔēĊ.
TčĎĘ ėĆċċđĊ čĆĘ ĕėĔěĎĉĊĉ čĚēęĎēČ
ěĊĘęĘ ęĔ ĔěĊė 11,500 ćĔĞĘ Ćēĉ ČĎėđĘ
ĜčĔ ĜĊėĊ ĎēęėĔĉĚĈĊĉ ęĔ ęčĊ
NĊćėĆĘĐĆ ĔĚęĉĔĔėĘ ęčėĔĚČč ĞĔĚė
ĈĔēęĎēĚĊĉ ĘĚĕĕĔėę!
Tickets are only $50 each
Each ticket you purchase enters you
into 104 separate gun
drawings, making your cost only
48¢ per drawing.
Average gun retail value is over $900!
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
Raffle License #35-6257461
BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition • NEBRASKAland
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ANTIQUES
31st ANNUAL ANITQUE and Collectors Show, August
15, 16 and 17, 2014. Crystal Lake Recreation Area, 12
miles southwest of Hasting, NE on Hwys 281/74 near
Ayr, NE. Open 7 a.m. Admission $5; under 10 free.
Tractor Drive 1:30 p.m. on the 15th, registration 11 a.m.
leaving /finishing at show site. Noon meal available.
Featured tractor: Oliver, Hart-Parr, White. Small engine/
antique vehicle display; flea market / craft vendors;
tractor pulls, games, lawn garden pull, parades, wine
/ mini beer tasting event, horse shoe tournament, Sat
evening presentation, pancake breakfasts, food vendors,
field demonstrations, blacksmithing, children games,
more. Information: www.pvama.org or donna@pvama.
org or 402-469-4455. Hosted by Platte Valley Antique
Machinery Association, Inc
EXPLORE NEBRASKA art, history, culture and the
great outdoors with a subscription to Nebraska Life
Magazine. One year (six issues) for $24 or two years (12
issues) just $44.00. Phone (800) 777-6159 or write us at
206 W Norfolk Ave, Norfolk NE 68702-0819. or visit
NebraskaLife.com. Makes a great gift.
BOATS/BOATING
ATTENTION: BORN IN 1986 OR AFTER: you
are required to complete a Boating Safety Course in
order to operate a boat or jet ski. Go to: http://
www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov/boating/guides/boating/
bgeducate.asp and click on Outdoor Calendar for a list of
classes in your area.
DOGS
DUCKDAWG RETRIEVERS - Raising exceptional
yellow and black Labradors. 30 month written health
guarantee. Duckdawg.com North Platte, NE (308) 5343659.
PREMIER GUNDOGS TRAINING KENNEL, Inc:
Nebraska state licensed gundog training kennel specializing
in training programs for waterfowl and upland hunting
retrievers, spaniels, pointing Labradors and all gundog
pointing breeds. Dale-Kris Taylor (402) 787-2048,
Premiergundogs.com.
FLATLANDER KENNELS INC, Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
This region’s premier full-time retriever training facility
for the serious hunter or AKC and HRC hunt tester. Trainer
of NE, CO, KS and SD’s first and only GRHRCH’s!
Training, puppies and stud dogs available for all levels of
hunt tests and gun dogs. Chris Jobman (308) 249-0707,
Flatlanderkennels.com.
REAL ESTATE
HOUSE IN VERDIGRE, NE Home away from home.
Completely refurbished, 2 bedroom, full basement, extra
long garage, new furnace, central air. $65,000 or best
offer. 402-742-6088 dotnjs@aol.com
VACATIONS/RESORTS
FISH/FISHING
FISH FOR SALE. Catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth
bass, perch, crappie, bluegill, walleye, rainbow trout,
grass carp, minnows. Pleasant Valley Fish Farm, 72645
U.S. Highway 83, McCook, NE 69001. (308) 345-6599.
NEBRASKA LAKE MANAGEMENT. Biological lake
surveys, fish stocking, rough fish control, lake aeration,
algae control, aquatic weed control. Rob Hofpar, Aquatic
Biologist, licensed, insured and qualified. (402) 784-6005
Valparaiso - (888) 850-2460 Nelakes.net.
GET YOUR FISHING PERMIT online today! Don’t
wait until tomorrow to enjoy Nebraska’s great outdoors
by going fishing with the family. To purchase a permit
from the comfort of your own home, go online to
OutdoorNebraska.org and click on Purchase a Permit
under Licenses and Fees.
FOOD/GIFTS/HOME
HOMEBREWING/BEER AND WINEMAKING.
Fermenter’s Supply, 8410 K Plaza, Suite #10, Omaha,
NE 68127. Phone orders only, (888) 655-2739. Advice
line (402) 593-9171. Fermenterssupply.com.
GUIDES/OUTFITTERS
CANOE - KAYAK - TUBE RENTALS on the
beautiful Niobrara River with Dryland Aquatics
at Sparks, Nebraska. Your Niobrara River Specialist.
(800)
337-3119.
Drylandaquatics.com,
info@
drylandaquatics.com.
WANTED – VOLUNTEER INSTRUCTORS. Interested
in making a difference? Get involved in teaching the
next generation of hunters. Call Heather Weihe at (402)
471-5662, or e-mail heather.weihe@nebraska.gov.
Home of Amazing Food at Great Prices
THE OLDE MAIN STREET INN. A historic bed and
breakfast listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Beautiful dining room with fireplace. Headquarters for
General Nelson Miles, Wounded Knee Incident, 1890-91.
115 Main Street, Chadron, NE 69337 (308) 432-3380.
Chadron.com/oldemain.
BIG BLUE RANCH & LODGE - Enjoy fishing,
horseback riding, hunting and prairie chicken viewing on
working cattle ranch in Southeastern Nebraska. Beautiful
log lodge with fireplaces, kitchens & big covered
porches, overlooks 20 acre lake. www.bigblueranch.com
(402) 865-4335.
BLUE CREEK LODGE - Oshkosh, NE. 13,000-acre
farm and ranch resort. Located by Crescent Lake National
Refuge and State WMA. First-class lodging, fishing and
hunting, boat rentals, waterfowl, upland bird, coyote
and mule deer hunting, family reunions, meetings and
getaways. Visit Bluecreeklodging.com or call (308) 7729912.
TAKE AN IN-STATE vacation this summer! With
affordable rates and locations with a view, visit a Nebraska
state park or recreation area. Go to OutdoorNebraska.org
and click on State Parks to look at the multiple options
available to you and make reservations at state park
facilities located across Nebraska.
Classified Rates: 85¢ per word, minimum $15.
Closing: First business day six weeks before issue
date. Classified ads are accepted on a first-come,
first-served, space-available basis. Classified
Ads, NEBRASKAland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370,
Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Telephone (402) 471-5473.
Fax: (402) 471-1984. E-mail: ngpc.ads@nebraska.
gov.
Make your trip to Burwell complete with lunch and
dinner at the Sandstone Grill. Featuring fresh
Salads and Homemade Soups, Specialty Burgers
and Locally Raised Bison Burgers. We serve
Nebraska raised CAB Steaks and source local
producers for many of our specialty items.
Homemade dessert.
Full wine, liquor and beer selection.
Mon-Thurs 10:30am-9pm
Fri-Sat 10:30am-10pm
Brunch First Sunday of each month 10am-2pm
Find us on Facebook!
416 Grand Avenue · Burwell · 308-346-4582
WINE AND DINE… with a view
◊ Open Wed-Sun 1-5pm
◊ Dinner every Fri-Sat
til 8pm with outdoor
dining overlooking
North Loup Valley
◊ Maker of
“Workhorse”
“Courgarlicsious”
“LaCrescent”
NEW
Nebraska Crossing Outlets, Gretna
4 miles North of
St. Paul, Nebraska
1732 Hwy 281
308.754.4416
milettavistawinery.com
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
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109
Nathan Arneal/North Bend Eagle
RIVER LIFE
AIRBOAT TOURS
* 7 Days a Week
* Group Packages
* Riverside BBQ/Party Area
Book a Tour!
402-7
720-0
0007
North Bend, Nebraska
www.riverlifetours.com
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All Neewries!
S
RT V X
North America’s best-selling diesel utility vehicles just got better.
Get ready for a whole new Kubota RTV experience
with a smoother ride, better terrain-ability,
improved ergonomics and innovation throughout.
It’s the rich, dark soil that yields the most at harvest time. The spot in America’s
heartland where the roads are dirt, the neighbors wave and the grain bins are
always at least half full. If you’re looking to buy the perfect farm property or cash
in by selling a piece of land, we can help.
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Contact a Ranch & Farm Properties agent to discuss selling
or buying hunting, ranch and farm land in Nebraska.
www.kubota.com
JASON SCHENDT | AGENT
LUKE WALLACE | AGENT
6W[PVUHSLX\PWTLU[TH`ILZOV^U
2\IV[H;YHJ[VY*VYWVYH[PVU
jason.schendt@whitetailproperties.com
luke.wallace@whitetailproperties.com
402.707.4885
402.340.6187
r a n ch a n df a r m p r op e r t i e s. com
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
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111
Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC. DBA Whitetail Properties | In the State of Nebraska DBA Whitetail Trophy Properties Real Estate LLC. and Ranch & Farm Properties | Dan
Perez, Broker - Licensed in IL, IA, KS, KY, MO, NE & OK | Jeff Evans, Broker - Licensed in AR, GA, IL, MN & TN | Wes McConnell, Broker - Licensed in AL, IL, OH, SD & WI | John
Boyken, Broker - Licensed in IN | Sybil Stewart, Broker - Licensed in MI & LA | Chris Wakefield, Broker - Licensed in TN | Joey Bellington, Broker - Licensed in TX
3101 O Street
Lincoln, NE 68510
402-620-3898
Mon. - Sat. 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
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NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
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EXPERIENCE BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA
Life is about taking the time to pursue and collect
as many unforgettable moments as possible.
OutdoorNebraska.org
116
NEBRASKAland • BEAUTIFUL NEBRASKA: A Collector’s Edition
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Be autif ul
Ne braska
A Collecto r ’s Editio n
NEBRASKALAND MAGAZINE STAFF
Communications Director: Christy Rasmussen
Editor: Jeff Kurrus
Art Director: Tim Reigert
Associate Editor: Amy Kucera
Regional Editors: Eric Fowler, Julie Geiser, Justin Haag, Jenny Nguyen
Contributing Editor: Michael Forsberg
Regular Contributors: Bill Hager, Chris Helzer, Lisa Knopp, Gerry Steinauer
Photo Librarian: Sarah Johnson
Circulation: Donna Robinson
Advertising Sales Manager: Shane G. Gilster (402-742-0125; email: shanegilster@gmail.com)
NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION
Administration
Director: Jim Douglas
Deputy Director: Tim McCoy
Board of Commissioners
Chairman: Lynn Berggren, Broken Bow
Vice Chairman: Jerrod Burke, Curtis
2nd Vice Chairman: Dr. Kent Forney, Lincoln
Dr. Mark Pinkerton, Wilber
Rex Fisher, Omaha
Mark Spurgin, Paxton
Mick Jensen, Blair
Dick Bell, Omaha
Norris Marshall, Kearney
NEBRASKAland Magazine Copyright 2014. All rights reserved.
NEBRASKAland is available in audio from the Nebraska Library Commission Talking
Book and Braille Service, Suite 120, 1200 N St., Lincoln, NE 68508. 800-742-7691.
NEBRASKAland Magazine and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reserve the
right to reject any advertising not in keeping with the agency mission.
Rates: $18 for one year; $33 for two years; $44 for three years. Nebraska recipients must
add appropriate sales tax. To subscribe call
1-800-NEBLAND (632-5263), or go online to: NebraskalandMagazine.com.
The coat of an American bison is adorned with frost on a November morning
at Fort Robinson State Park. The bison’s thick coat and muscular neck allows
it to continue grazing when temperatures drop and snow deepens.
Photo by Justin Haag
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