Volume 95, Issue 5, 2017
June 2017
- Identifier:
- nela.2017_095_05
- Title:
- Volume 95, Issue 5, 2017
- Issue Name:
- June 2017
- Date Issued:
- 2017-06-01
- year:
- 2017
- month:
- June
- Season:
- Spring
- PDF filename:
- NL_95.05_2017_Jun_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 095
- issue:
- 05
- number:
- 095.05
- Decade:
- 2010s
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Extracted Text:
-
Publis hed by the Nebr a s k a Ga m e a nd Pa r k s C o m m is s io n si nc e 1926
NEBRASKAland
June 2017
Pictured is a native solitary bee (Melissodes comptoides) on purple prairie clover at
The Nature Conservancy’s Platte River Prairies. June 19-25 is National Pollinator Week.
Photo by Chris Helzer.
NebraskalandMagazine.com
$4.95
INSIDE
Sleeping Outdoors ● Sandhills Blowouts
Rock Creek Station Photo Re-creation ● Kids Fishing
A Celebration of Conservation ● Northern Prairies Land Trust
J
u
r
s
P
u
i
e
t
h
t
18, 20
er
b
m
e
n
t
p
e
i
S
o y1
17
NEBRASKAland Magazine
Volume 95
●
No. 5
●
June 2017
F EAT U R ES . . .
Ma
26 Sleeping Outside
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JENNY NGUYEN
34 Time Well Spent – What to Do in June
BY RENAE BLUM
36 A Celebration of Conservation
A 150-year Retrospect on Commission Accomplishments
BY ERIC FOWLER
46 Taking Kids Fishing
...and keeping it simple
BY JULIE GEISER
50 Mirror Image – Wet Plate Photography
BY RENAE BLUM
56 Blowouts – A Unique Feature of the Sandhills
STORY AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS HELZER
64 Northern Prairies Land Trust
a partner in landscape conservation
50
●
BY GERRY STEINAUER
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E ...
Mixed Bag – The Elk, Travel to Buffalo Bill Ranch,
Edible Common Mallow, Boating Safety and more........... 8
Page 49 – Welsch's Take on Red Cedars ..................... 70
Product Reviews – "What I Continue to Use" ......... 72
Out and About – Our Family Species Contest.......... 73
Outdoor Update – Fishing in the Southwest ............ 76
Portraits from the Past – Reader's Photos ............. 78
In the Kitchen – Paddlefish Cakes ............................ 80
The Last Stop – Past and Present of Windmills ........ 82
64
●
56
●
Visit Parks. Be Active. Win Prizes.
THROUGHOUT 2017, NEBRASKALAND MAGAZINE WILL
PUBLISH ARTICLES ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE'S 150YEAR CELEBRATION. LOOK FOR THIS LOGO TO READ ABOUT
NEBRASKA'S RICH HISTORY AND VIEW OUR INTERACTIVE
DIGITAL EDITION FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Learn more at NEGPP.org
NEBRASKAland (VOL. 95 / NO. 5 ISSN 0028-1964) is published monthly, except
for the combined Jan./Feb. and Aug./Sept. issues, by the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE. Periodicals postage paid at Lincoln,
Nebraska, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
NEBRASKAland, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.
2 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
10th year
34
●
Cover: A tent and campfire illuminate under a starry sky at Two Rivers
State Recreation Area near Waterloo. Photo by Jenny Nguyen.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 3
Newspaper Needs
Dear NEBRASKAland,
I just read your article in the May
issue of the magazine. As a young
boy in Boy Scouts, we enjoyed cold
weather camping. My father told me
that before going to sleep at night
to wrap my feet in newspapers for
insulation and put bread sacks over
them. As a kid, I thought that was the
weirdest thing I've ever heard. But my
feet were always warm and toasty.
Also, at home nothing works better
for cleaning windows than a newspaper
instead of paper towels or a cotton
cloth. There are no streaks and no bits
of fabric. I also use newspapers to help
caps, hats and even Halloween masks
to keep their form. I really enjoyed the
article.
Jeff Haverkamp
Kearney, Nebraska
Kody Brown from Lincoln shared this photo on Facebook of a barred owl. "It was a
cold morning at Pioneers Park, and this owl was just watching me," Brown said.
LaVerne James of North
Platte took this photo of a
windmill and rainbow a few
miles northwest of town.
4 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 5
NEBRASKAland Magazine
COMMISSIONERS
CONSERVATION OFFICERS
Director Jim Douglas
Commissioners
Chairman - Rex Fisher, Omaha
Vice Chairman - Dick Bell, Omaha
2nd Vice Chairman - Robert Allen, Eustis
Mark Spurgin, Paxton
Rick Brandt, Roca
Pat Berggren, Broken Bow
Jim Ernst, Columbus
Norris Marshall, Kearney
Dan Kreitman, Wahoo
ADMINISTRATION (Lincoln)
Craig Stover (Administrator)
Duane Arp (Asst. Administrator)
Jeff Clauson (Asst. Administrator)
MAGAZINE STAFF
Jaxon Stander of Louisville holds a pile
of morel mushrooms, one measuring 12½
inches, from a spring hunt.
Ron Hiett of Bellevue took this photo of
a male cardinal at Fontenelle Forest early
in spring.
This photo of a sandhill crane was
captured by Chris Clay of Omaha at Rowe
Sanctuary in Gibbon.
Outdoor Plates
Lynn Werman’s career brought him
from Cleveland to Omaha in 1988.
In the year before he transferred
to Washington D.C., he met many
friendly people in the small towns he
visited – and how to do the finger wave
between them – and forged such a
bond with the state that he got “NE 4
ME” plates in Virginia. He scored that
same plate when he returned to Omaha
28 years ago and another iteration a
few years later.
If you have a unique outdoor
message plate you would like to
share, or know someone who does,
e-mail a photo (high-resolution, JPEG
format only, please) along with your
hometown and a brief description of
the interests expressed on your license
plate to Eric.Fowler@Nebraska.gov.
Send your comments to:
Jeff Kurrus, Editor
NEBRASKAland Magazine
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503
or e-mail Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov
Please include your postal address and telephone number. Letters may be condensed
and edited. Photographs are also welcome.
Hobby photographer Sabine Kantenseter of North Platte captured this stunning sunset while going for a drive to look for wildlife
near her hometown.
6 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Any program that receives federal funding from the National Park
Service, or the United States Fish and Wildlife Service prohibits unlawful
discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, gender, marital
status, national origin, age, disability or political affiliation. Any person
who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program,
activity, facility, or service, should contact the Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission, Lincoln, NE 402-471-0641, the Equal Opportunity
Commission, Lincoln, NE 402-471-2024, TTY/TDD 402-471-4693;
United States Fish Wildlife Service, Civil Rights Coordinator, 4401
N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203; Director, Equal Opportunity
Program, U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service, 1849 C
Street NW, Mail Code 0008, Washington, D.C. 20240-0001.
Communications Director Christy Firestone
Editor Jeff Kurrus
Art Director Tim Reigert
Associate Editor Jenny Nguyen
Regional Editors Eric Fowler, Julie Geiser,
Justin Haag
Contributing Editor Michael Forsberg
Regular Contributors Renae Blum,
Chris Helzer, Chris Masada, Gerry Steinauer
Photo Librarian Jaclyn Cruikshank Vogt
Circulation Donna Robinson
For address changes and questions about
your subscription, e-mail donna.robinson@
nebraska.gov or call 800-632-5263
Advertising Sales Manager
For advertising information contact
Shane G. Gilster, 402-742-0125
Email: shanegilster@gmail.com
NEBRASKAland Magazine Copyright 2017, 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.
COMMISSION
C
CO
COM
OM
MMIS
MISSIO
S NO
OFFICES
FFICES
FF
FFI
S
Headquarters/Southeast District Office
2200 N. 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503
Phone 402-471-0641
Northeast District Office
2201 N. 13th St. Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone 402-370-3374
Southwest District Office
301 E. State Farm Rd. North Platte, NE 69101
Phone 308-535-8025
Northwest District Office
East Hwy. 2, Box 725 Alliance, NE 69301
Phone 308-763-2940
Bassett Office
524 Panzer St., Box 508 Bassett, NE 68714
Phone 402-684-2921
Kearney Office
1617 First Ave. Kearney, NE 68847
Phone 308-865-5310
Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium
21502 W. Highway 31 Gretna, NE 68028
Phone 402-332-3901
Omaha Office
8495 Frederick Street, Omaha, NE 68124
Phone 402-595-2144
402-471-5531
402-471-5531
402-471-5531
NORTHWEST (Includes counties covered)
Jim Zimmerman (District Supt.)
308-641-9590
Sean McKeehan
(Cheyenne, Morrill, Box Butte)
308-279-9133
Scott Brandt
(Kimball, Banner, Scotts Bluff)
308-631-0663
Dan Kling (Sioux, Dawes)
308-430-0572
Terry Brentzel (Deuel, Garden, Grant) 308-458-7650
402-389-0444
Frank Miller (Cherry, Hooker)
NORTHEAST (Includes counties covered)
Tom Zimmer (District Supt.)
402-649-8053
402-760-0712
Dale Davis (Keya Paha, Brown, Rock)
Greg Hesse
(Greeley, Wheeler, Boone, southern Antelope) 402-843-6567
402-340-3981
Jonathan Andreasen (Holt, Boyd)
Mitch Johnson (Knox, Antelope, Pierce) 402-613-8612
402-762-5022
Jeff Jones (Knox, Cedar)
Owen Johnson
(Dixon, Dakota, N 1/2 Thurston)
402-266-1759
Jon Reeves
(S 1/2 Thurston, Burt, Washington)
402-889-8508
402-719-1108
Dan Roberts (Dodge, Colfax)
Cory Krause
(Cuming, Wayne, Stanton, Dodge)
402-380-6410
Steve Oberg
(Colfax, Platte, Madison, Stanton)
402-910-3366
308-730-7050
Doug Pollard (Loup, Garfield, Valley)
Andrew Heyer (Pierce, Madison, Stanton) 402-613-2241
SOUTHWEST (Includes counties covered)
Roger Thompson (District Supt.)
308-530-3097
Taylor Dixon
(Dawson, Gosper, Phelps)
308-217-2108
308-202-0819
Matt Brandt (Sherman, Howard)
308-380-7331
Tim Williams (Hall, Hamilton, Merrick)
Pat George
(Harlan, Franklin, Phelps)
308-920-2762
Matt Andrews
(Gosper, Furnas, Frontier, Red Willow)
308-746-2418
Brian Piernicky
(Red Willow, Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock)
308-340-6627
308-289-0427
Nicholas Fix (Keith, Perkins)
308-289-1169
Bryce Streger (Keith, Arthur)
Brandon O’Neal
(Lincoln, McPherson, Logan)
308-530-3157
Alex Hasenauer
(Lincoln, McPherson, Logan)
308-660-4671
Dale Johnson (Kearney, Buffalo)
308-440-3847
308-529-8146
Mike Thome (Dawson)
Ray Dierking (Custer, Thomas, Blaine) 308-870-0322
John Lee (Hitchcock, Dundy, Chase, Hayes) 308-414-1432
SOUTHEAST (Includes counties covered)
Levi Krause (District Supt.)
402-949-0593
402-619-1355
Rich Berggren (Douglas)
402-616-5961
Dan Evasco (Sarpy)
402-210-0888
Heath Packett (Cass)
402-209-1506
Russell Mort (Otoe, Johnson)
William Krause
(Nemaha, Richardson, Pawnee)
402-274-8063
Dan Zuehlke (Gage, Saline)
402-806-9084
402-890-6463
Dina Barta (Lancaster)
402-890-6465
Doug Kramer (Lancaster)
402-937-3422
Dudley Sorensen (Lancaster, York)
402-613-2312
Travis Shepler (Lancaster)
402-890-7140
Stacey Lewton (Lancaster, Seward)
402-443-6392
Mike Luben (Saunders, Butler, Polk)
Matt Taylor (Thayer, Fillmore, Jefferson) 402-200-9597
Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers
1-800-742-7627
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 7
A Mammal
Brief
Lindsay Rogers is an outdoor
education specialist with the
Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission.
By Lindsay Rogers
Convergence on
Sacred Ground
July 21-23, 2017
Plan to come experience history in Ash
Hollow, refuge to the Native Americans,
Nebraska cowboys and farmsteaders,
fur traders, military and pioneers during
the 1860’s.
• Lively Discussions
by Historians
• Exhibits
• Trail and
wagon rides
• Music
• River rides
• Petting zoo
Lewellen, NE
8 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
PHOT
OTO
O BY
Y JON FARRAR
Cervus canadensis
Once common across
Nebraska, the elk was
extirpated from the state by
1900. By the 1960’s elk were
once again found in Nebraska,
but only in the northwest
portion of the state. Today, elk
can be found in five regions
throughout western Nebraska
– along the Niobrara River,
Pine Ridge, North Platte River
and Loess Canyons. That said,
young bulls can travel anywhere in the state and often several wander to eastern Nebraska annually. Although
population sizes for elk are often hard to estimate, the state population is likely over 3,000. The Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission is embarking on a new project to estimate elk population sizes using DNA found in elk
scat.
Sexes can be distinguished not only by size – bull elk can reach weights of over 1,000 pounds while females
rarely top 600 pounds – but also by the massive antlers on males which can grow to over four feet in length.
And while both sexes have tan fur with a darker neck, the male’s neck mane is also shaggy during the mating
season. ■
• Food
• Living Histories
• Interactive
activities
Check out our website:
www.Ash-Hollow150th.com
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 9
Travelogue
Travelogue Sponsors
Buffalo Bill to Big Mac Road Trip
By Hannah Hundley, Nebraska
Tourism Commission
I
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
mmerse yourself in the history of
western Nebraska and travel along
the same path the cowboys did on
the Pony Express. This month’s
Nebraska road trip takes the traveler
on a short trip from the famous Buffalo
Bill Ranch State Historical Park to the
family vacation destination of Lake
McConaughy.
Along the way visitors can stop for
a bite to eat at a local restaurant in
Paxton affectionately referred to as
Ole’s. Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse
and Lounge is a comfortable and
interesting destination that provides
friends and family a place they can
enjoy each other’s company and
admire mementos of Ole’s worldwide
safaris. After enjoying time at Ole’s,
visitors can move on to Ogallala, a
historical town located on the old Pony
Express route and transcontinental
railroad.
Ogallala, originally gaining fame by
being part of the Great Western Trails
used for cattle drives, is now known
for its rich old-west history and family
friendly community. Named after the
Ogallala Sioux tribe, this town is home
to a number of historical landmarks
and attractions. Visitors are welcome
and encouraged to check out the
Brittany Daugherty poses on the cliff rocks at Lake McConaughy near sunset.
spending time in Ogallala, visitors
can then make their way over to the
largest reservoir in Nebraska, Lake
McConaughy.
Named after Mayor Charles W.
McConaughy of Holdrege, Nebraska,
this reservoir provided 1,500 people
jobs during the Depression-era from
1936 to 1941. This man-made body
of water is one of Nebraska’s most
popular locations for fishing, boating,
water sports, camping and hunting.
Round up the family or some friends
and enjoy your leisure time cooling off
near the water and viewing the natural
wonder that is western Nebraska. ■
Cowboy museum, the Mansion on a
Hill, and the Petrified Wood and Art
Gallery.
Be a part of Old West history and
stop by Front Street. This replica
of an old western town has been
designated as the “cowboy capital” of
Nebraska. Stay a little later to enjoy a
performance recreating life in an Old
West cattle town.
The Mansion on a Hill offers a
glimpse into what a classic Victorian
style home looked like. Visitors can
also view hidden gems, minerals
and Native American Artifacts at the
Petrified Wood and Art Gallery. After
While in North Platte
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
Visit the Lincoln County Historical
Museum that is rich in local
history including the famous North
Platte Canteen, which served 6
million troops during World War II.
lincolncountymuseum.org.
A permanent memorial dedicated
to the military men and women of
the United States who served their
country is on display at the 20th
Century Veterans Memorial.
Celebrate Nebraska during
Nebraskaland Days, June 14 24, 2017 with rodeos, dances,
concerts, art shows and more.
nebraskalanddays.com
Check out visitnorthplatte.com for
a list of attractions and a monthly
calendar of events.
Ole's Big Game Steakhouse in Paxton is a unique stopover for travelers.
10 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 11
A Brief History
Stagecoach Travel
By the Nebraska State Historical Society
F
ew modern Nebraskans have traveled in
a stagecoach, and then only in a parade
or as part of a re-enactment. Traveling for days
inside a crowded coach over the dusty prairie is an
experience we can only imagine.
When Nebraska Territory was opened to settlement,
however, the stagecoach was the principal overland means of
public transportation for people who could afford it. Before
the railroads came, it was the fastest means of travel.
Nebraska City freighter William Fulton in 1899 recalled
his early Nebraska experiences that included more time
spent in a stagecoach than he wanted.
In an August 18, 1899, letter to Jay A. Barrett of the
Nebraska State Historical Society, Fulton wrote: “I left St.
Louis, Mo., in February, 1859, and came to Nebraska City
by stage coach from St. Joseph, Mo. The ice being too soft
to bear the weight of the coach the passengers walked across
the river from the Iowa side.”
Fulton said the rates for transportation of passengers
were high and the wayside accommodations poor. In 1860
a typical man’s daily wage ranged from $1 to $1.50 a day.
Fulton writes:
“The Overland Stage Company in 1863 charged $75 fare
to Denver and $150 to Salt Lake City, while in 1866 they
got the price up to $150 to Denver and $350 to Salt Lake
NSHS RG2
RG2586-3
RG2586
586-3
586586
3
A stagecoach bound for Fort Randall from a location in northern
Nebraska or South Dakota.
NSHS RG2586-3
Golden Spike Days Parade, Omaha, circa 1935. By the 20th century the stagecoach had become an icon of the Old West.
12 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
City. The baggage of each passenger was limited to twentyfive pounds and there was a charge of $3 for every extra
pound. At $1 each, meals, consisting of bacon, bread, and
coffee, with sometimes game, such as venison, antelope, or
occasionally a sage hen, could be obtained. Butter and eggs
were unknown luxuries at stage stations, the former selling
in Denver at $1.50 per pound and the latter at the same price
per dozen.
“We rode night and day in the stuffy, uncomfortable coach,
journeying six days to reach Denver and eleven or twelve
days to Salt Lake City… At that time a trip by stage was
considered very grand, yet I have no desire to repeat the
experience.”
In 1861 Mark Twain and his brother traveled west by
overland stagecoach, crossing Nebraska on their way to
Nevada. In Roughing It, Twain described the coach as “a
cradle on wheels” and welcomed the adventurous experience
the trip provided. They rode “a-top of the flying coach,
dangled our legs over the side and leveled
an outlook over the world-wide carpet about
us for things new and strange to gaze at. It
thrills me to think of the life and the wild
sense of freedom on those fine overland
mornings!” ■
Visit the Nebraska State Historical Society’s
website at nebraskahistory.org.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 13
Favorite Fishing Lure Debate
14 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
By Jacob Jadlowski
Here’s the scenario. You’re going
fishing but you’re going to be
blindfolded, put in a truck, and dropped
off at an undisclosed location on an
undisclosed body of water somewhere
in the continental United States. You
get to take one lure. What would it be?
It’s a no brainer for me – 1.5 Strike
King KVD Square Bill Crankbait.
And if I had to pick, I’d take the
bluegill imitation. The color, action and
vibration are irresistible for a number
of species in almost any situation.
Obviously, bass are the main species
that I target, but the variety of species
that ends up on the treble hooks never
ceases to amaze me. Largemouth,
smallmouth, northerns, walleye,
bluegill, crappie, muskie, carp, gar,
catfish – I’ve caught them all.
And if that didn’t sell me on it, a trip
to the Snake River in Idaho a couple
of years ago sure did. My brother and
I went and visited a buddy and he
took us up the river on a jet boat in
pursuit of steelheads. It was completely
foreign to me. New terrain, new river,
new lures, new tactics, I had no idea
what I was doing but it was awesome.
However, we weren’t catching
anything. My little brother had the idea
first. He tied on a 1.5 shad imitation as
the rest of the locals laughed at him,
and no joke, first cast he hooked up
with his first career steelhead. The guys
we were with couldn’t believe it. It’s
the best lure on the market, period.
Editor’s note: While I respect
Jadlowski’s opinion, I respectfully
disagree. If you do as well, email me at
Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov and we’ll
share our rebuttals together in next
month’s issue. ■
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 15
Wild Edibles - The Common Mallow
By Julie Geiser
The common mallow (Malva neglecta) is part of the
Malvaceae plant family that includes cotton – not edible,
okra, hollyhock and hibiscus. These plants were brought to
America by European settlers as a food source and for its
medicinal qualities. Mallow has been used for centuries as
an anti-inflammatory, diuretic, demulcent, emollient, laxative
and an expectorant. The plant is rich in vitamins A and C,
calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and selenium.
Identifying the common mallow plant is easy, and it is
one to start with for new foragers. Stems of the plant grow
from a central point then branch out at the base as it spreads
across the ground. The stems originate from a deep, fleshy
tap root that makes the plant hard to pull from the ground.
The leaves grow alternately from long stalks – or petioles –
off the stem and are heart to kidney-shaped, shallowly lobed
and have toothed edges. Short hairs are present on the leaf
surfaces, margins and petioles.
Its fruits are round, flattened capsules that resemble cheese
wedges, which gives the plant one of its nicknames: cheese
plant. The plant flowers are either single or in clusters of
three growing from the leaf axils. They bloom from around
May to late autumn and have five petals varying from pale
pink, lilac color to white. After flowering, seed pods form
near the flowering stem, which allows the mallow to freely
reseed.
Because of its deep tap root, the mallow plant can grow
in many different areas including: lawns, roadsides, crop
fields and disturbed areas. Be cautious of mallow plants
grown in nitrogen-rich soils such as in gardens or fertilized
agricultural fields; the plant tends to concentrate high levels
of nitrates in its leaves. The leaves can be eaten in higher
quantities when not growing in nitrogen-rich soils.
All parts of this plant are edible and contain a mucus-like
substance. Leaves and young shoots can be eaten raw in
salads as a lettuce substitute or cooked as greens. The leaves
have a mild, pleasant flavor. Cooked leaves also create a
mucus similar to okra and can be used as a thickener to
soups and stews. Dried leaves can be used for tea.
When boiled in water, mallow roots form a thick mucus –
this liquid can be beaten to make a meringue-like substitute
for egg whites.
Immature seeds are edible raw or cooked and have a
pleasant, nutty flavor. However, they are usually too small to
collect in quantity. The fruit and flowers are also edible and
can be used in salads or stir fried.
However, before eating any plant, make sure to positively
identify it and do some research. ■
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
From root to flower to seed, the common mallow (Malva neglecta) plant is fully edible. Common mallow leaves and flowers can be
eaten raw or cooked. Roots may be boiled to form a mucus-like liquid that can substitute egg whites in meringue.
16 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 17
#NEGameAndParks
Boating Safety
By Jeff Kurrus
With boating season in full swing, consider
the following safety tips to keep you and your
family safe on the water.
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
1) Make a pre-departure checklist to be
prepared for any water emergency. These
include a fire extinguisher, first aid kit,
flashlight and rope.
2) Check the weather before going and use
common sense before getting on the water.
3) Wear your life jacket at all times. In fatal
boating accidents, 78 percent of the victims
drown, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Of these, 84 percent are not wearing a life
jacket. Comfortable Coast Guard-approved
life jackets are widely available.
4) Boating under the influence of alcohol is just as deadly
as drinking and driving. Due to sun exposure and heat,
people are likely to become impaired more quickly when on
the water. So play it safe and avoid alcohol when boating.
The blood alcohol content is .08, the same as for motor
vehicles.
5) Install a carbon monoxide alarm on your boat. Carbon
monoxide is an odorless, colorless and poisonous gas that
is emitted by all internal combustion engines, such as boat
engines. The symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to
seasickness, but CO can kill in a matter of minutes.
6) Understand your audible signals and your navigation
rules. You can find both, and more rules and regulations, at
OutdoorNebraska.org/guides. ■
Thanks to Lindsey Lucenta and Herb Angell for their
reporting on this article.
In Nebraska’s state parks, an adventure waits over every ridge and around every bend. Moments wait
to be had and memories beg to be shared. This summer, get outside and discover seventy-seven parks
and enjoy unlimited experiences. No matter what you choose to do outdoors—it’ll be time well spent.
To get inspiration for your park adventure, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/Explore.
18 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Images shared on Instagram by Nebraska State Parks visitors.
Share your images with us!
Pine Wilt
My Photo Tip – Sunbursts
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
By Jeff Kurrus
“It would have been a really
nice photo if you would have
had a sunburst.” It was this brief,
but influential, comment by my
NEBRASKAland colleague Eric Fowler
that turned me once again into a better
photographer.
We were evaluating a set of images
for our upcoming calendar and one
sunrise shot I included just didn’t quite
make the cut. “So how do I create the
sunburst?” I asked.
“F22,” he simply stated.
Most of the time when I shoot, my
SLR camera’s settings are on aperture
priority – I set the depth of field and
the camera chooses the shutter speed
for the exposure of my choosing.
When the angle is just right at dawn
or dusk, Fowler taught me to place my
aperture on F22 to create the desired
sunburst. However, before I shoot the
This sunburst photo was taken at Stagecoach State Recreation Area near Hickman.
image I make sure that my shutter
speed is 1/60 of a second or faster.
Anything slower and my shaky little
hands won’t create the sharp image
that I intended unless I use a mono or
tripod.
I can also give myself more leeway
by increasing my ISO, but most of the
time, because I’m shooting directly into
the sun anyway, my shutter speed is not
a problem.
My only problem is my regret for not
asking about Fowler’s sunburst images
sooner. ■
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
Sunrise on a deer
archery hunt
provided an excellent
opportunity for a
sunburst image.
20 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
By Julie Van Meter
State Entomologist, Nebraska
Department of Agriculture
Dead and dying Scotch pine, Pinus
sylvestris, have become common in
the eastern Nebraska landscape over
the past two decades. Often the death
seems shockingly rapid; a tree that was
otherwise healthy looking is suddenly
orange and dead within a few short
weeks. The cause of the demise of
Scotch pine is pine wilt.
Pine wilt is caused by the pinewood
nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus,
a microscopic worm that feeds on the
living cells surrounding the resin canals
of pine trees. The nematodes rapidly
multiply, feeding and damaging the
cells, disrupting the movement of water
throughout the tree. This will lead to
rapid tree death, with needle color
changing from a healthy green to a
dusty appearance to orange in as little
as a few weeks.
The nematodes cannot move from
tree to tree by themselves. Instead they
are assisted by pine sawyer beetles,
MARK HARRELL, NEBRASKA FOREST SERVICE
Presented
by
Monochamus spp. These beetles are
¾-1½ inches in length, dark brown to
blackish, with long antennae. Female
beetles lay eggs under the bark of
pine trees, preferring stressed or dying
trees. The beetle eggs hatch out and the
larvae begin to feed, tunneling into the
wood. After the larvae pupate, adult
beetles emerge, typically from May to
September, fly to new trees, and begin
to feed on twigs.
The nematodes will leave the beetle’s
breathing tubes and enter the new tree
through the feeding wounds to start
a new infestation. The relationship
is considered mutualistic, meaning
that both the beetle and the nematode
benefit. The beetle gives the nematodes
a ride from tree to tree, and the
nematode creates a suitable
it bl habitat
h bit t in
i
which the beetles can reproduce.
Scotch pines are by far the most
likely tree to be killed by pine wilt.
In general, native species appear to
have a high resistance to damage or
death caused by pinewood nematode.
Introduced species don’t fare as well.
Species including Austrian (P. nigra),
jack (P. banksiana) and mugo (P.
mugo) pines, and even occasionally
eastern white pine (P. strobus) have
been killed by pine wilt.
In order to slow the spread of pine
ne
wilt, landowners should use basic
sanitation practices. Trees that die
from pine wilt should be cut down
and destroyed before adult beetles
can emerge from them. If a tree dies
es
between May 1 and October 1, it iss
important to cut and burn, chip or bury
b
the tree immediately.
Do not save this wood for firewood
– beetles will continue to emerge from
it through the summer and into fall, to
infest new trees. Trees that die after
October 1 should be removed and
destroyed before May 1, when beetle
could begin to emerge. ■
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 21
A Bow Range Nearby
By Jeff Kurrus
There is more than one Nebraska bowhunter each fall who
asks that one regretful question as the nicest deer of their life
gives one, admonishing blow after a failed shot and slowly
trots away: Why didn’t I practice more?
With a number of public ranges statewide, including the
following list, there are no excuses. Start practicing so you
can do your best work when these magical moments present
themselves this fall.
Indian NRD – Beatrice
• Big
Oak Lake State Recreation Area – Raymond
• Branched
Lake Archery Range – Omaha
• Cunningham
NRD Archery Range – Hastings
• Davenport
Cave State Park – Shubert
• Indian
Lake
McConaughy
State Recreation Area – Ogallala
• Long Pine State Recreation
Area – Long Pine
• McCook Archery Range – McCook
• Nebraska Outdoor Education Center – Boosalis Park,
• Lincoln (contains both indoor and outdoor ranges)
Bend Archery Range – Homer
• Omadi
Lake State Recreation Area – Lincoln
• Pawnee
Pilger
NRD
Archery Range – Pilger
•
River State Park – Louisville
• Platte
State Park – Ponca
• Ponca
Willow State Recreation Area – McCook
• Red
Wildlife Management Area – Kearney
• Sac-Wilcox
Schramm
Park
State Recreation Area – Gretna
• Summit Lake State
Recreation Area – Tekamah
• Taylor’s Branch – Pawnee
• Tecumseh NRD Archery Range – Tecumseh
• Valentine Fish Hatchery – Valentine
• Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area – Scottsbluff
• Willow Creek – Pierce
• York Archery Range – York
•
■
BOTTOM PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER, TOP BY JEFF KURRUS
An archer takes aim at 3-D deer and elk targets at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's Outdoor Education Center in
Lincoln.
22 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 23
by Jerry Kane
June 1-30
Archery Paddlefish
Season start and end
June 2
Landowner Elk Permits
Final day eligible landowners may apply
for one elk permit
June 7
Monarchs on a Mission Educator
Workshop
Holt County Extension, O’Neill
June 7
Pony Express Re-ride
Fort Kearny SHP, Kearney
June 3
National Trails Day
June 7, 21
Family Fun Night
Indian Cave SP, Shubert
Red Willow Reservoir SRA, McCook
June 3
Aquatic Center Grand Opening and
Dedication
June 8
Family Fishing Event
Ponca SP, Ponca
June 3-4
Living History
Fort Atkinson SHP, Fort Calhoun
Mormon Island SRA, Grand Island
June 8
Family Fishing Event
Oak Lake, Lincoln
June 3-4
Rock Creek Station Trail Days
June 9-10
Western Sugar Cooperative
Nebraska Fishing Tournament
Rock Creek Station SHP, Fairbury
Lake Minatare SRA, Minatare
June 5
Pollinator Workshop
June 10
National Marina Day
Calamus SRA, Burwell
Lewis and Clark SRA, Crofton
June 6-8
Wild About Wildlife Day Camp
June 10
Kids’ Fishing Clinic
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
Alexandria SRA, Alexandria
June 7
Family Fishing Event
Benson Park, Omaha
June 10
Rimfire Steel Plate Challenge
Platte River SP, Louisville
June 10
Fish and Chip Tournament
Willow Creek SRA, Pierce
June 10
Wildflower Walk
Wildcat Hills SRA, Gering
June 11
Family Fishing Event
Terry’s Pit, Terrytown
June 12-23
Deer Permit Applications
Residents and nonresidents may
apply for one deer permit in any
draw unit
June 12-23
Antelope Permit
Application
Residents and eligible
landowners may apply for one
buck or either-sex antelope
permit in available units
24 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Residents may apply for one elk
permit
June 13
Family Fishing Event
Walnut Creek Reservoir, Papillion
June 13-15
Wild About Wildlife Day
Camp
Nebraska Game and Parks
Outdoor Education Center,
Lincoln
June 14
Family Fishing Event
Bowling Lake, Lincoln
Battling rhinos sculpture at
Ashfall Fossil Beds near Royal.
June 16-17
Ash Hollow Pageant
Ash Hollow SHP, Lewellen
June 17
Republican Valley Archery 3-D Shoot
Red Willow Reservoir SRA, McCook
June 22
Commission Meeting
Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission meeting, Scottsbluff
June 17
Ranch Life in the 1860s
Rock Creek Station SHP, Fairbury
June 17
Carp-O-Rama
June 23
Family Fishing Event
Birdwood WMA, North Platte
Branched Oak SRA, Raymond
June 17
Battling Rhinos Sculpture Dedication
Ashfall Fossil Beds SHP, Royal
June 24
Nature Center and Shooting
Range Grand Opening
Wildcat Hills SRA, Gering
June 17
Hike/Bike Trail Dedication
June 27-29
Outdoor Explorers’ Day Camp
Fort Kearny SRA, Kearney
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
June 18
Father’s Day Buffet
June 28
Family Fishing Event
Fort Robinson SP, Crawford
Prairie Queen Recreation Area,
LaVista
June 20
Family Fishing Event
Holmes Lake, Lincoln
June 20-22
Wilderness Awareness Day Camp
NEBRASKAland
d
Visitor
Last issue’s winner of
the Visitor drawing was
Frank Condello of Lincoln,
Nebraska, who found the soldier
termite on page 68.
Readers are encouraged to contact
NEBRASKAland within 10 days after
this issue’s publication with the
correct page number and name of
this issue’s “Visitor” – a critter found
in Nebraska. We will then gather the
correct entries and draw one to win a
NEBRASKAland mug.
To enter each month, write:
NEBRASKAland Visitor
2200 North 33rd Street
Lincoln, NE 68503
Or e-mail:
Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov
with “Visitor” in the subject line of
the message.
HINT: This issue’s visitor is not on
page 15, 25, 48, 60, 61, 62, or 63.
By Renae Blum
Nebraska’s state parks trail system
has more than 1,250 miles of some of
the most diverse land and water trails to
be found anywhere. On Saturday, June
3, we invite you to come explore one
for yourself on National Trails Day.
Whether you are looking for a short
walk or a rugged mountain biking trail,
you can find one that will suit your
needs. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/trails
for maps and more information. A list
of park events scheduled for National
Trails Day can be found on the Game
and Parks calendar.
While you’re out and about, don’t
forget to continue compiling a list of
birds you’ve spotted for the 150 Bird
Challenge, which continues throughout
the year in honor of Nebraska’s 150th
birthday. The challenge consists of
listing all of the bird species that you
see or hear in Nebraska in 2017, with
the goal of reaching 150 species.
Helpful resources can be found at
OutdoorNebraska.org/nebraska150.
In addition to spotting birds, keep
your eye out for species of butterflies,
mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
You can find more information about
what species to look for, as well as
tips on wildlife watching in general, at
OutdoorNebraska.org/wildlifeviewing. ■
June 29
Family Fishing Event
Carter Lake, Omaha
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center
June 21
Family Fishing Event
Windmill SRA, Gibbon
June 22
Family Fishing Event
Cottonmill Lake, Kearney
June 22
Family Fishing Event
Towl Park, Omaha
June 22
Family Fishing Event
Skyview Lake, Norfolk
Every June at
the Ash Hollow
Pageant,
volunteers
reenact scenes
from the
diaries of those
traveling the
Oregon trail.
PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG
June 12-23
Elk Permit Application
Family fishing in Kearney County.
Take the Road
Less Traveled
Contact the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at 402-471-0641 or visit
OutdoorNebraska.org for more information.
Visit HuntSafeNebraska.org for a list of hunter education classes and
BoatSafeNebraska.org for a list of boating safety classes.
Two species of termites are native
to Nebraska: the eastern subterranean
termite (Reticulitermes flacipes) and
the arid land subterranean termite
(R. tibialis). Termites are social
insects, with three distinct castes
including workers, soldiers, and
reproductive termites. Only the
reproductive termites have wings,
and are darker in color than the
other castes. Workers are pale
and blind, spending their lives
building mud tubes and foraging
for food. Soldier termites have
large heads and jaws, as seen in
this image, and are responsible for
defense of the colony. Termites
look similar to ants, but there are
some key differences. Termites have
straight antennae, while ants are
elbowed. Ants have a narrow waist
between the thorax and abdomen,
but termites do not. Both ants and
termites have two pairs of wings,
however a termite’s wings are all
the same length, while an
ant’s front pair is shorter
than the back pair.
Special thanks to Julie Van Meter,
State Entomologist, Nebraska
Department of Agriculture.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 25
SLEEPING
OUTSIDE
Story and photos by Jenny Nguyen
S
ome of my best memories involve tent camping. I was
a Girl Scout during much of my childhood, and shortly
after entering high school in California, I was a Venture
Scout. Camping, backpacking and hiking were major parts
of my life before college. The sights I saw, the connections
I made, the things I accomplished in the outdoors – I always
returned home with a sense of peace that most of the other
kids at my high school could not fathom. And I also made
lifelong friends whom I still consider “family,” even though
I’ve moved 1,000 miles away.
But through all the old memories and fun times in the
outdoors with my friends, I must not forget to look back
toward home. While my parents were not outdoorsy people
in the least, they had the wisdom to recognize the value in
it. I was lucky – even though I may not have realized it at
the time.
I remember my mom taking me to Girl Scout day camps
when I was little, and my dad, who tirelessly dropped me
off and picked me up at countless Venture meetings and
long weekends of playing in the woods. On a Friday, he
would say goodbye to his seemingly sane and tidy daughter.
Then, the following Sunday, he would be greeted by a
stinky, greasy-haired monster, who sometimes had a limp
because of the giant blisters on her feet.
Whether I had been car
A night photo of a Kelty Zodiac 4 tent at Two Rivers State Recreation Area near Waterloo.
e, California, backpacking in
Venture Crew 167 of Garden Grov
Mountains in 2007.
ada
Nev
ra
the Minarets of the Sier
26 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
camping close by, wandering in the desert for days or
sleeping on a mountain, my dad always greeted me the same
way: smiling, amused and glad I was home, accompanied by
his famous line: “That’s a lot of foul laundry you got there.”
My brother, who was a Boy Scout, received the same
treatment. Because my parents didn’t have the money to
take us away on grand, expensive family vacations, they
sent us back to nature instead. That was one of the best
things they ever did for us.
So now when I go camping as an adult, I quietly applaud,
from afar, those parents who have the good sense to take
their children with them. And I’m especially impressed by
those who can effectively tent camp. The reason why I like
tent camping so much is its simplicity. There’s no temptation
to turn on the TV or stay cooped up inside. When you tent
camp, you’re forced to cook, eat, do the dishes, play, read,
talk, connect, and make memories outside. And when you
sleep, all that’s separating you from the critters and the night
are a couple sheets of polyester and poles.
Lying inside my tent, experiencing all the sounds and the
sensations, it’s as if nature is huddled right outside my door.
Are the coyotes really as close as they sound? I’ve never
peeked outside to check. I just lay still, listen to them howl
and allow my imagination to run.
Fast forward a few years and now I live in Nebraska.
While tent camping here is generally not technical, it is
accessible and also an ideal place to learn. With so many
state parks and state recreation areas scattered across the
state, a camping opportunity is usually just a short drive
away for most residents. And in many areas, amenities such
as showers and running water, as well as dedicated park
staff, are available spring through fall.
I see Nebraska as a good training ground for new campers,
which can lead to more extensive and challenging trips down
the road. However, make no mistake. Even with our gentle
elevations and well-maintained, easy-to-get-to parks, we do
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 27
satisfactorily under light use, they often come with tiny
rain flies and flimsy poles. End-of-season sales are when
you should be looking for a new tent. My Kelty came from
Target at 40 percent off.
As far as structure, I personally do not like cabin-style
tents. These tents may give you lots of headroom and may
look fancy with their dividers and walls, but they can be
tricky to assemble, especially in the dark. They also tend to
be less stable. Instead, choose dome-style tents, which offer
superior durability and wind shedding capabilities. And if
you’ve put together one dome-style tent, you’ve basically
done them all. Also choose a tent that comes with aluminum
poles, which are lighter and more durable than fiberglass.
Some tents come with a footprint and others are sold
separately – this is a must-have item to prevent wear and
tear underneath your tent.
Are you thinking of taking off for a grand adventure?
If so, a backpacking tent may be a better option for you.
Marguax Towne shows Journey Odom of Bellevue how to cook
with a pie iron while camping at Two Rivers State Recreation
Area.
have weather and insects. If Nebraska camping seems easy,
it’s because its people are hardy and have learned to be well
prepared. Sunshine, high winds, rainstorms, hail, snow, sleet
– outdoor Nebraska can be surprising. If you are equipped to
camp in this crazy weather, I believe you can camp almost
anywhere in the country.
TENT CAMPING
In eastern Nebraska, my favorite times to camp are during
the spring, fall and mild summers, therefore a three-season
tent is all I’ve ever needed. I own two tents: a roomy Kelty
Zodiac four-person tent (MSRP $99.95) and a small REI
Half Dome two-person backpacking tent (MSRP $199.00).
I’ve owned the Kelty for nearly six years and REI Half
Dome for over eight. Both have held up well.
If a relaxing, three-day weekend campout is more your
speed and possibly with kids and/or pets, a roomier, less
technical camping tent is what you need. I love my Kelty
Zodiac four-person tent, which is perfect for two adults. When
choosing the right size, it is best to assume that the tent will
run small, so go up a size. There’s enough room in my Kelty
for a queen air mattress and plenty of room for packs.
When choosing a tent, look for one that comes with a
large, waterproof fly, which will provide full coverage from
wind and rain. Larger vestibules also allow for stowing away
lanterns, chairs and cooking equipment during wet weather.
While less expensive tents such as Coleman perform
28 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Under the direction of Commission Outdoor Education Specialist Christy Christiansen, families learned how to pitch a tent
and cook outdoors at a Becoming an Outdoors-Family camping workshop at Two Rivers State Recreation Area near Yutan.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 29
reviews and if making a big purchase, buy from retailers that
offer 100 percent satisfaction or lifetime guarantee, which
has become the standard.
COMFORTABLE SLEEPING
Children of the Janzen and Epp families play in the Platte River at Two Rivers State Recreation Area in the spring.
An assortment of camping gear the author owns.
30 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Lightweight and portable, these space-saving tents are ideal
for on-the-go traveling.
I still hold onto my REI Half Dome even though I don’t
backpack anymore. This little tent is easy to set up, fairly
lightweight, packs neatly, holds solidly in the wind, and
has survived through countless heavy rainy days with zero
leakage. But typical of most backpacking tents, interiors are
snug, offering limited space for personal items. With the fly
set up, though, two vestibules are created to keep packs and
boots protected from the weather. The REI Half Dome was
the same tent I used when I biked the Cowboy Trail from
Norfolk to Valentine two years ago (read about it in the
May 2015 issue).
Backpacking tents are also great for camping in areas that
allow dispersed camping – camping outside of designated
campsites. Public areas such as Indian Cave State Park, Fort
Robinson State Park, adjacent Soldier Creek Wilderness,
Nebraska National Forest at Halsey, Oglala National
Grassland, and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest, with
their many miles of trails, offer campers a chance to really
get away from the crowd.
Also consider these other brands: Big Agnes, Marmot,
The North Face, Cabela’s and Eureka, to name a few.
Whichever tent you choose, however, remember that
a trusty backpacking tent is an investment. Read many
A sleeping pad is essential – not only does it provide
cushion, but it also helps to insulate you from the cold
ground regardless of how comfortable the air temperature
feels. The type you should buy depends on the kind of
camping you plan on doing.
Foam pads are less expensive, lightweight and low
maintenance, but tend to be stiff and uncomfortable. Air
pads have come a long way for backpacking: they’re light
and packable, but they can puncture – although a patch kit
can easily take care of that – and they are generally more
expensive. Self-inflating sleeping pads are a combination
between open-cell foam insulation and air; they are more
comfortable than foam pads and more durable than air
pads, but they are also heavier, less packable and can still
puncture. I recommend Therm-A-Rest when looking for a
sleeping pad.
As a young backpacker, I used to scoff at people who
brought their giant inflatable mattresses to car camp. I rolled
my eyes at the loud, obnoxious sound of an electric air
pump groaning from the next campsite over, which dared
disturb my peace and quiet. Now – not so much. Last year,
I broke down and bought a SoundAsleep Camping Series
Air Mattress (MSRP $134.95) on Amazon, and it has made
camping so much more enjoyable and comfortable. It’s
a breeze inflating and deflating, and has helped me sleep
through the night.
I own several sleeping bags: a combination of rectangular,
mummy, single, double, synthetic-filled, down-filled,
cotton-lined and polyester-lined. Which one you choose
will depend on your personal preference, the time of year
and your activity level. Synthetic-filled bags are the most
commonly used, as they are less expensive and can provide
insulation even when wet. While down-filled bags are
lighter, highly compressible and provide better insulation,
you’ll pay for it. Down-filled bags are also useless when
wet. When choosing a sleeping bag, keep in mind that
comfort ratings are subjective – some people run hotter and
others colder. Read plenty of reviews.
For three-season camping, my fiancé, Rick, and I usually
use The North Face Dolomite Double 20F Degree Synthetic
Sleeping Bag (MSRP $159), which provides just enough
warmth and room for two adults. And in warmer weather,
I prefer our cotton-lined Coleman bags because polyester
lining, while breathable, can get sticky in muggy weather.
For cold, late-November deer camping, I take my
mummy, down-filled REI Sub Kilo +15F Sleeping Bag,
which features 750-fill goose down and a thick hood for
warmth. Rick also has the same bag, except it’s cut for a
man. Because mummy bags are constructed to maximize
warmth by eliminating as much dead space as possible, they
are more constrictive compared to rectangular bags. Less
Tent camping in the fall at Indian Cave State Park.
expensive synthetic-filled mummy bags are also available.
A couple notes on caring for sleeping bags: after camping,
air out your sleeping bag to prevent molding and loosely
store in a large bag or container to maintain loft, which will
prolong your sleeping bag’s insulating capabilities. Never
store a sleeping bag long term inside a compression sack.
KITCHEN AND MEALS
Rick and I eat quite well when we camp, but there’s
always that fear of forgetting a knife, spatula or tongs at
home. We remedy this by designating kitchen items specific
for camping – mostly old kitchen tools that we don’t use
anymore – stored in a special plastic tub that is labeled
“Kitchen Camping.” When we’re ready to camp, we go
through the contents with a checklist and just pack it into the
car. Your needs will depend on what kind of food you like to
cook. It may take a few campouts to whittle down or add to
your list for the perfect camp kitchen.
We like to cook dishes that are quick to make and dirty
as few pots and pans as possible, and we prefer non-stick
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 31
CAMPING CHECKLIST
Personalize this list according to your needs. But remember
that it’s better to be safe than sorry.
Camp Essentials
• Tent (with stakes and
guylines)
• Tent footprint
• Tent repair kit
• Sleeping bags (with
optional liners)
• Sleeping pads/air
mattresses with
pump/cots and repair
kits
• Pillows
• Multi-tool or knife
• Folding chairs
• Folding table
• Mallet or hammer for
tent stakes
• Headlamps/flashlights
with extra batteries
• Lanterns with mantles,
fuel and/or batteries
• Duct tape
Above: Backpacking tents used at Long Pine State Recreation Area during a cross country bike trip on the Cowboy Recreation and
Nature Trail. Below: Hash made with canned potatoes, eggs, bacon and green onion is an easy one-skillet meal for breakfast.
cookware for easy cleaning. Steaks, salads, dehydrated
mashed potatoes, breakfast hash, foil packet dinners,
hamburgers, hotdogs, sandwiches, pasta, etc., are popular
with us.
A few other notable items include Campsuds soap –
biodegradable and works in cold, hot and salt water; a
Camp Chef 9 piece knife set – packs neatly, includes all the
cutlery you will need and a cutting board; and a Coleman
two-burner propane stove – a dependable workhorse in our
outdoor kitchen.
Food safety is always critical, especially when camping,
so keep hand sanitizer gel and wipes available. Disposable
cutting board sheets are also great for preparing risky meats
such as chicken.
While on the expensive and heavy side, we like our RTIC
coolers, which have dramatically cut down the amount of ice
we have to buy and replace during warm weekends. And if
you plan on venturing out to camp in other states – which I
sincerely hope you do – the coolers are also bear proof.
For minimalist camping, I recommend Mountain House
or Backpacker’s Pantry freeze dried food; the MSR Pocket
Rocket backpacking stove; a GSI Outdoors, MSR or
Mountain Summit Gear backpacker cookset; and a portable
spice rack container. In bear country, you may be required to
carry food in bear-resistant canisters. And a good pocket knife
will have countless uses.
32 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Children play in a tent at Ponca State Park’s Missouri River
Outdoor Expo.
BECOMING AN OUTDOORS-FAMILY
Few families will fondly remember the times they’ve
sat around a television, but they will remember sitting
around a campfire telling stories, laughing and burning
marshmallows. For a few days, tent camping offers the
humbling opportunity to live by nature’s terms. And for
a group of people, it offers the opportunity to bond, make
fun memories, see new sights and learn new skills. It’s
something that you, your significant other, children or
friends will share forever.
The possibilities are endless. Today, Two Rivers State
Recreation Area. Tomorrow, Yellowstone, the Grand Teton
or Mount Whitney. As a lifelong camper, I know that I’ll
never run out of places to go, things to see and adventures to
share.
With outdoor skills, only so much book knowledge can
replace practical knowledge. If you’d like more guidance,
look to the Commission’s Becoming an OutdoorsFamily program for hands-on outdoor skills workshops:
OutdoorNebraska.org/bof.
Clothes
• Moisture-wicking
clothing and
underwear
• Sun-shielding hats
• Swimsuits
• Boots or shoes suited
to terrain
• Socks (synthetic or
wool)
• Sleepwear
• Insulating outwear if
needed
• Gloves or mittens
• Rainwear (jacket and
pants)
• Clothesline with clips
• Water sandals/shoes
• In-camp sandals or
booties
Kitchen
• Stove with windscreen
and fuel
• Matches or lighter
• Charcoal with fire
starter
• Firewood (if allowed –
see page 21)
• Grill rack
• Frying pan
• Cook pots
• Pot grabber
• Dutch oven
• Portable coffee maker
• Bottle opener and
corkscrew
• Can opener
• Recipes
• Marshmallow/hotdog
roasting sticks
• Food-storage
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
containers/storage
bags
Trash bags
Tablecloth and clips (or
tape)
Coolers and ice
Drinking water
Plates, bowls, mixing
bowls
Mugs/cups
Measuring cups and
spoons
Eating utensils
Knives, cutting board,
spatula and whisk
Foil
Egg holder
Biodegradable soap
Pot scrubber/sponge
Portable or standing
camp sink
Quick-dry towels
Personal Items
• Toilet paper
• Sunscreen, lip balm
and insect repellent
• Hand sanitizer and
antiseptic wipes
• Spare eyeglasses/
contact lenses
• Mirror
• First-aid kit
• Prescription
medications
• Toiletry kit: toothbrush,
toothpaste, brush/
comb, soap,
cosmetics, etc.
Other Items
• Camera/camcorder
with memory cards
• Park permits
• Campsite reservation
confirmation
• Compass and maps
• Field guidebooks
• Pet essentials
• Games/toys
• Books or magazines
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 33
Time Well Spent
What to Do in June
By Renae Blum
J
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
une is a busy month. The fishing is great, camping season is in full swing
and there’s lots to do looking ahead to the fall hunting seasons. Here are
a few additional ideas to keep you going. For a full list of this month’s events
across the state or for more information on any of the activities listed here,
visit OutdoorNebraska.org.
■
Rock Creek
Trail Days
Father’s Day Weekend
at a Park
June 3-4
Rock Creek Station State Historical
Park
June 17-18
Statewide
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
Get a peek at the inner workings of a mid19th century Nebraska stage and Pony
Express station during Rock Creek Trail
Days, held the first weekend in June. Living
history interpreters will reenact the bloody
skirmish that helped earn “Wild Bill” Hickok
his name, and demonstrate activities such
as flint knapping, blacksmithing and hawk
throwing. A buffalo stew cookout will be
held on Saturday. Tickets are available until
noon on June 2 at the Fairbury Chamber of
Commerce and at the Rock Creek Station
Visitor Center on Saturday.
State parks are a great place to celebrate Father’s
Day. Try grilling by the lake, swimming at a park
pool, taking a camping or fishing trip, or going
boating. Several parks, including Fort Robinson,
Platte River and Eugene T. Mahoney state parks, are
offering special buffets and menus.
Statewide
Celebrate Nebraska’s 150th this month by enjoying festivals in Omaha,
Dannebrog, Blair, Papillion, North Platte, Holdrege, Cortland, Beatrice
and Crofton. Attractions at the various events include
parades, live music, activities for kids, local food and
more. Also, don’t miss Ash Hollow State Historical Park’s
Pageant on June 16-17, with live music and performances
celebrating the stories of travelers on the OregonCalifornia Trail. See the calendar at ne150.org for details on
these and other events.
Throughout the month
Throughout the month
Statewide
Statewide
A variety of wildflowers are blooming across
the state, such as black-eyed Susan, pale
purple coneflower, purple spiderwort, common
milkweed, shell leaf penstemon and ox-eye
daisy. As for where to go: In eastern Nebraska,
visit Indian Cave State Park, Rock Creek
Station State Historical Park and Fort Atkinson
State Historical Park. Calamus State Recreation
Area is a good bet in central Nebraska; in the
west, visit Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area.
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
34 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Throughout the month
Photographing
Wildflowers
Family Fishing
Nights
If your family is new to fishing, come out for
Family Fishing Nights! These free events are
designed to make fishing fun and rewarding for
newcomers of all ages. Rods and reels, as well
as bait and fishing instruction, will be available
for free. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/familyfishing
for dates and locations.
Nebraska Sesquicentennial
Events
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 35
A Celebration of Conservation
By Jon Farrar and Eric Fowler
2017 marks the 150th anniversary of Nebraska
becoming a state. For most of that period, the
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has worked to
conserve the state’s natural resources, continuing the
work that some started even before statehood.
1873 – The first
documented fish stocking
in Nebraska occurred by
accident when a westbound train derailed on the
Elkhorn River near Fremont,
dumping a car carrying
300,000 fish.
1875 – Game laws were
amended to protect
the wild bison
with a closed
season, the
same year
Enforcing game and fish laws was the primary responsibility of the Commission in its early
years. By 1933, when these game wardens posed for a photo, the agency employed 18 game
wardens in 15 districts across the state.
the once abundant animal
was nearly extirpated from
the state.
1879 – The Nebraska
Legislature passed a bill
creating the three-man Fish
Commission.
1881 – The Commission
purchased what
would
become the Gretna Fish
Hatchery, and later, part of
Schramm Park SRA, and
began raising and stocking
fish in waters throughout the
state. This included German
carp, which “will be the
most successfully cultivated
of any fish
adapted
BISON PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
36 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
1860 – The Council and
House of Representatives
of the Territory of Nebraska
set the first seasons for deer,
elk, turkey, quail, grouse
and woodcock. As wildlife
declined, other species were
added and seasons became
more restrictive. Yet it
would be 40 years before
state legislators provided for
enforcement of game and
fish laws.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
L
rivers in the summers. And they sought out wild and scenic
places to do these things, to camp, or to simply visit for a
Sunday picnic. They wanted to ensure there would always
be wild things, including game to hunt and fish to catch, and
that wild places were preserved that all could enjoy.
From its beginnings with the formation of the Fish
Commission in 1879, the Game and Parks Commission’s
involvement in the conservation of these resources grew to
what it is today. The agency’s mission is simple: Stewardship
of the state’s fish, wildlife, park, and outdoor recreation
resources in the best long-term interests of the people and
those resources.
The methods the Commission uses has changed drastically
since its early days. Fisheries management has shifted from
purely stocking to scientific sampling and monitoring of fish
populations and improving fish habitat in Nebraska waters,
both new and old. Wildlife management that once only used
hunting seasons and limits to manage wildlife now uses
science to study it, surveys to monitor it and set seasons, and
focuses on habitat work to maintain or expand populations,
with work focusing more on nongame species than ever before.
In the parks, where once simply
providing a place to go was
sufficient, the Commission is now
expanding amenities and activities
to enhance visitors’ experiences.
Decades ago, the duties of
conservation officers began to
shift from purely law enforcement
to education and public relations.
Educating Nebraskans on the
importance and value of the natural
resources, and teaching them
how to enjoy them, is a growing
component of completing the
mission.
In a land with such a diversity of
landscapes, fish, wildlife and plant
species, it is a noble and worthy
mission, one that the people of the
The Romaine and Decker fish hatchery was already in operation when the Nebraska
Commission are proud to uphold.
Fish Commission was created in 1879. The Commission purchased the hatchery,
What follows is the history of
complete with canyon ponds, in 1881 and renamed it the Gretna Fish Hatchery. It is
resource management in Nebraska.
now part of Schramm Park State Recreation Area.
ong before Nebraska became a state in 1867, the
people who lived here had an innate appreciation for
the state’s fish, wildlife and other natural resources.
For Native Americans, fur traders and early settlers,
this abundant fish and game provided sustenance in
a land that was sometimes harsh. Some speculate settlers
would not have survived without it.
The utilitarian nature of those first settlers nearly wiped
out many wildlife species. The plow played its part, too,
converting wildlife habitat to cropland. Elsewhere in the
U.S., logging was destroying forests. It is in these events in
American history that the conservation movement was born
in the 19th century, and where the roots of the Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission can be found.
As Nebraska was settled and man no longer relied so
heavily on game and fish to survive, his appreciation of
the state’s natural resources shifted from one of utility and
sustenance to enjoyment and appreciation. In their free time,
Nebraska hunted and fished for fun and relaxation as much
as they did for food. They swam and boated in the lakes and
1859 – Territorial
legislature passed laws
restricting hunting and
limiting weapons.
Game laws protected the
American bison by closing the
season in 1875 – just before
they were nearly wiped out by
over-hunting and shooting.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 37
1896 – It became illegal
to hunt another man’s land
without permission.
1901 – The first fishing
regulations in the state
were passed. Trout season
ran June through October
November 15, even though
it was estimated there
were only 50 deer and 100
pronghorns in the state, and
waterfowl hunting season
ran from September 1 to
April 15.
The fi
Th
first
rstt iissue
ssue off Outd
O
Outdoor
tdoor
Nebraska, the precursor to
NEBRASKAland Magazine,
was published in 1926. Like
this 1927 issue, above, it was
16 pages plus the cover.
1901 – Deer and
pronghorn hunting seasons
ran from August 15 to
1901 – In the same act
that created the Commission,
for the first time in Nebraska
history, the legislature placed
restrictions on the taking of
fish and game and provided
funding for four full-time
employees. In addition, 88
“special deputy wardens”
served without compensation
to “report status of fish and
game, and violations” in
their areas. In later years, the
special wardens were paid
half of any fines imposed as
a result of their work.
1901 – Nebraskans
hunting or fishing outside
of the county in which they
resided were required to buy
a $1 permit. In 1911 “female
persons” and boys under the
age of 18 when fishing, and
boys under the age of 18
when hunting with a parent
or guardian, were exempted
from a license. In 1921, all
persons over age 16 were
required to have a license,
regardless of where they
lived, hunted or fished.
1905 – For the first time,
state statutes prohibited the
taking of fish in any public
water, except the Missouri
River, by means other than
hook and line.
1905 – Pheasants
were stocked by private
individuals and were
protected, as were all
species of native squirrels.
The Commission purchased
its first breeding stock of
pheasants in 1911.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
1881 – Song birds were
protected and another law
made it illegal to kill birds
with anything other than a
shoulder mounted gun.
with an 8-inch minimum,
and daily bag limits on fish
were set at 25. Seasons
were added for bass and
other species throughout the
years. With the exception of
paddlefish seasons on the
Missouri River, fishing has
been open year-round for all
species since 1946.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
to our waters” and touted
as the “poor man’s fish of
the future” for the food
it would provide. By the
time the Game and Fish
Commission was formed in
1901, efforts were already
being made to eradicate the
fish, which muddies our
waters, work that continues
today. Hatcheries were later
established at Valentine,
Rock Creek near Parks,
Benkleman, Crawford,
North Platte, Grove Trout
Rearing Station near Royal,
and Calamus Reservoir.
All but two, Benkleman
and Crawford, remain in
operation.
1905 – Wolves, coyotes,
foxes, wild cats, skunks and
rabbits could be killed at any
time of the year. Daily bag
limits allowed 10 geese, 50
ducks and 50 “other birds.”
Canada geese were abundant in the early 1900s and hunters took advantage. In this 1908 photo, Albert Schatz, Jack Stack, driver in
background, Keith Neville, Governor of Nebraska from 1917-1919, A. P. Kelly, and Henry Rassmussen show off the 29 Canada geese
they took on a hunt on the North Platte River between Sutherland and Paxton.
1913 – Passage of the
federal Migratory Waterfowl
Act prohibited spring
waterfowl hunting. The
federal Migratory Bird
Treaty Act of 1918 provided
additional protection.
1907 – The legislature
provided full protection for
deer, elk, pronghorn and
beaver, closing the season
on all.
1917 – Soon after World
War I was declared, at the
request of the National
Food Administration, the
Commission established a
seining crew to harvest fish
to help feed the nation. In
the first 18 months, the crew
seined 125,000 pounds of
carp and buffalo fish, which
were sold for one or two
cents per pound. The crew
was disbanded in 1971.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
Judge Charles Mathews, seated, claimed his homestead next to spring-fed Victoria Creek. He built two log buildings in 1873, one for
his home, which would later become Custer County’s first post office, and the other a store, and bottled and sold the spring water.
In 1923, Victoria Springs was added to the state park system, and the buildings still stand today at the SRA near Merna.
38 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
1919 – The Game and
Fish Commission became
a division of the newly
created state Department of
Agriculture, which aimed to
make abundant fish and fowl
an important source of food,
just as corn and cattle.
1919 – All school sections
in the state were declared
game and bird reserves.
1921 – The agency was
reorganized as the more
independent Bureau of
Game and Fish within the
Department of Ag.
1921 – The legislature
created the State Park Board
within the Department of
Public Works, and set aside
one section of school land in
the Pine Ridge for Chadron
State Park. By 1930, the
park had 10 cabins and a
swimming pool.
1921 – Laws were revised
to allow fishing through
ice, which to that time was
prohibited, for all species
except trout and pike.
1923 – Arbor Lodge,
the mansion and grounds
of J. Sterling Morton in
Nebraska City, and Victoria
Springs, the log home and
store of Judge Matthews
near Anselmo, were added
to the state park system.
Arbor Lodge later became
a State Historical Park, nine
more of which were added:
Fort Kearny, Fort Hartsuff,
Fort Atkinson, Buffalo
Bill Ranch, Champion
Mill, Bowring Ranch, Ash
Hollow, Rock Creek Station
and Ashfall Fossil Beds.
1925 – The Bureau began
to establish a statewide
system of recreation
grounds to supplement the
state parks. In 1925 and
1926, recreation areas were
acquired at Goose Lake,
Walgren Lake, Rat and
Beaver lakes and Fremont
Sandpits “to provide
fishing and hunting for
the thousands of Nebraska
citizens who desire such
outdoor recreation.”
1926 – First issue
of Outdoor Nebraska,
precursor to NEBRASKAland
Magazine, was published.
1927 – The grouse bag
limit was reduced to five,
ducks to 20 and geese five.
1927 – Bag and size limits
were established for game
fish and heavy fines imposed
for the use of nets or traps to
catch fish.
1927 – All fees received
by the Bureau from sale of
permits were directed to
funding the fish and wildlife
department, making the
Bureau self-supporting.
1927 – Hunting from an
auto was prohibited.
1927 – A three-day
pheasant season, Nebraska’s
first, opened in October
in Wheeler and parts of
Sherman counties. In 1928,
a 10-day season was held
in nine central Nebraska
counties.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 39
1930 – The Commission
purchased land near Scotts
Bluff to create a “big game
reserve” today known as
the Wildcat Hills State
Recreation Area.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
From 1958 through 1962, 1,077 pronghorns trapped in Colorado
were released in the Sandhills, restoring the species to its
native range.
increased to seven and now
stands at nine.
1929 – In addition to
the Chief Warden and a
Special Investigator, there
were 15 district wardens
and additional special
deputy wardens serving
principally as eyes and ears
for the district wardens.
District wardens were issued
uniforms and furnished with
“small automobiles” and
camping equipment so they
could live in the field when
required.
1930 – The Commission
began its first fisheries
research project: an
investigation of the aquatic
plant and insects in Cherry
County lakes. The agency
didn’t hire its first fisheries
biologist until 1943.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
Dr. and Mrs. Wanek of North
Platte show off their catch in
1934.
40 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
1930 – The Commission
began its first wildlife
research project: a study of
the food habits of the ringnecked pheasant in central
Nebraska.
1930 – The hunting season
on prairie grouse was closed
and would not reopen until
1950.
1935 – Niobrara State
Park at the mouth of the
Niobrara River opened to
the public after work by the
Civilian Conservation Corps
(CCC) in 1934 and 1935.
1936 – Ponca State Park
along the Missouri River
in Dixon County was
created with the donation
of 200 acres from area
residents and developed
almost entirely with federal
funds through the Civilian
Conservation Corps.
1937 – The Federal Aid
in Wildlife Restoration Act,
better known as the PittmanRobertson Act, was passed
by Congress establishing an
11 percent manufacturer’s
excise tax on sporting rifles,
shotguns, ammunition, and
archery equipment, and a
10 percent tax on handguns.
Revenues from the tax are
still distributed to state
conservation departments
to help support wildlife
research and management.
1940 – Separate hunting
and fishing permits were
issued for the first time,
Separate hunting and fishing
licenses were not available
until 1940.
with either costing $1 and a
combination permit $1.50.
1944 – A 10-day quail
season was allowed in four
southeastern Nebraska
counties, the first since
1918.
1957 – The Commission
opened what would in 1962
become Fort Robinson State
Park to the public on the site
of what had been an active
military fort from 1874 to
1948.
1945 – Deer had become
so abundant on the Bessey
Ranger District of the
Nebraska National Forest
near Halsey that a December
“experimental season” was
allowed. It was the first
since the season for deer
was closed by the legislature
in 1907.
1958 – Pronghorns
trapped in Colorado were
released in north-central
counties in January to
re-establish herds once
native to the Sandhills. From
1958 through 1962, 1,077
pronghorns were released.
1945 – The Commission
began operating Lake
McConaughy and other
reservoirs in Central
Nebraska Public Power and
Irrigation District’s new
irrigation system as state
recreation areas.
1958 – 28 Merriam’s
wild turkeys obtained
from Wyoming and South
Dakota were released in the
Deadman’s Creek drainage
1958 – The Commission
began requiring a $1 State
Recreation Areas stamp
for vehicles entering the
parks, its first foray into a
user-pay system similar to
that required of hunters and
anglers. The stamp, which
funded park improvements
and maintenance, was issued
for 3 years.
1959 – The Legislature
approved a bill that creates
the Division of State Parks
within the Commission.
The bill also established
the State Park Fund and
a special mill levy that
would collect 1.3 cents
for every $100 in assessed
taxable property value
from 1959 through 1968 to
fund the development and
maintenance of the park
system, replacing the SRA
sticker and the general fund
appropriation and spurring
major projects in the parks.
1959 – Assigned boating
safety responsibilities by the
legislature, the Commission
began issuing licenses for
1949 – Nebraska’s second
deer season since 1906
was held in the Pine Ridge.
There has been a deer
hunting season in every year
since, and statewide hunting
since 1961.
1950 – The DingellJohnson Act created the
Sport Fish Restoration
Program by establishing
an excise tax on fishing
equipment. The tax,
collected by the federal
government, is reallocated
to the states to enhance sport
fisheries.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
1929 – The State Park
Board was dissolved and
merged with the Bureau of
Game and Fish to create
the Game, Forestation and
Parks Commission. The
legislation provided that the
governor should appoint five
commissioners according
to districts to serve as the
policy-setting board of the
agency. The number of
commissioners was later
1934 – Because of the
drought, seining crews
salvaged an estimated 1
million game fish from
drying waters throughout
the state and stocked them
in other suitable lakes
and streams. Additionally,
118,000 pounds of rough
fish were sold and the
revenue used to fund future
operations.
1954 – Research was
initiated on what would be
one of the Commission’s
most ambitious research
projects: The Life History
and Ecology of the
Ring-necked Pheasant in
Nebraska. Field work for
the project would not be
completed until 1965.
in Dawes County and the
Cottonwood Creek drainage
in Sioux County.
A hunter poses with a trophy mule deer he harvested in the 1949
season in the Pine Ridge, the second in the state since 1906.
motorized boats.
Missouri River.
1958 – The Commission
took on management
responsibilities and began
developing facilities
for fishing, hunting and
recreation at Lewis and
Clark Lake, the Missouri
River reservoir formed by
Gavins Point Dam, which
had been completed by
the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers in 1957.
1964 – The Commission
began developing recreation
facilities at Bureau of
Reclamation reservoirs,
including Merritt, Enders,
Box Butte, Medicine Creek,
Red Willow, Sherman and
Swanson, that were leased
to the Commission for
recreational development.
Lake Minatare had been
added in 1960 and, in 1983,
Calamus was included. It
also began work on facilities
at the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers’ Salt Valley
reservoirs near Lincoln,
including Branched Oak
Lake.
1961 – Game wardens
became known as
conservation officers.
1962 – The first turkey
hunting season in Nebraska
was held in the Pine Ridge.
The state’s first spring turkey
season came in 1964.
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
1933 – The Commission
had established 26 state
recreation areas.
1953 – Nebraska held
its first open season on
pronghorns since 1906 in a
portion of Cheyenne County.
Fort Robinson State Park stagecoach. Circa late 1950s to early
1960s. Photographer unknown.
1963 – Indian Cave State
Park was established in the
wooded bluffs along the
1964 – The name of
the monthly magazine
was changed from
Outdoor Nebraska to
NEBRASKAland.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 41
NGPC LIBRARY ARCHIVES
Canada geese raised at Sacramento-Wilcox Wildlife Management Area near Holdrege were used
to restore nesting populations in the Sandhills and elsewhere between 1983 and 1997.
1966 – A Master Angler
Award program was created
to acknowledge large fish
caught by Nebraska anglers.
1967 – The legislature
removed the responsibility
for forestation from the
Commission, which was
renamed the Game and
Parks Commission.
1967 – Elk began
wandering into the Pine
Ridge, where the state’s
first resident herd in modern
history became established
southeast of Chadron.
1970 – The Commission
initiated a program to
re-establish breeding
populations of Canada
geese in the Sandhills. By
1983, when the Sandhills
42 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
1974 – The Gretna fish
hatchery, the state’s first,
acquired in 1881, was
closed. The grounds are now
a museum at Schramm Park
State Recreation Area.
1974 – The Legislature
passed a law requiring all
hunters born in 1977 or later
1975 – Dove hunting
season opened statewide.
There had been no season
since 1953 when the
legislature reclassified the
dove as a songbird.
1976 – A five-day
1970 – What would
become the Cornhusker
Trap Shoot began. The
Commission became a
sponsor of the event in 1972
and has run it since 1987.
Now the largest shoot of its
kind in the nation, it draws
about 2,500 middle and
high school students from
Nebraska and surrounding
states.
1972 – The Legislature
provided for fee-exempt
hunting and fishing permits
for veterans 65 and older or
anyone over 70 years of age.
1973 – Sixteen bison were
moved from Wildcat Hills
State Recreation Area to
The reintroduction of bighorn sheep, extirpated from Nebraska
by 1900, began with the release of six sheep into a pen at Fort
Robinson in 1981. Other releases brought sheep from other
states to the Pine Ridge and Wildcat Hills, and in 2012, 41 sheep
trapped in Alberta, Canada, were released north of Harrison.
1977 – As recommended
by the 1975 Habitat
Conference, a cooperative
effort between sportsmen’s
groups, the Commission and
other agencies, Nebraska’s
first Habitat Stamp was
issued. The $7.50 stamp
replaced the Upland Game
Stamp and provided funding
to manage habitat on public
and private land and acquire
wildlife management areas.
1978 – A park-entry
permit program, authorized
by the legislature in 1976,
was initiated to raise funds
for improvement and
maintenance of state parks.
1979 – The Ak-Sar-Ben
Aquarium opened at the
site of the old Gretna fish
hatchery in Schramm SRA.
The educational facility has
hosted countless programs
for adults and school
children since.
1981 – With the support
of the North American Wild
Sheep Foundation and the
Nebraska chapter of the
Safari Club International,
the Commission released
six bighorn sheep in an
enclosure on the buttes at
Fort Robinson State Park
to establish a resident herd.
Some of those sheep and
their progeny were released
to the wild in 1988 and the
enclosure was removed
entirely in 1991. Boosted
by the relocation of sheep
from Colorado, Montana and
Canada in 2001, 2005, 2007
and 2012, the state now has
about 320 sheep in the Pine
Ridge and the Wildcat Hills.
1982 – Platte River State
Park officially opened in the
bluffs above the river for
which it was named.
1983 – The Nebraska
Game and Parks Foundation
was created to help develop
private/public partnerships
that have generated tens
of millions of dollars in
donations to enhance and
improve Nebraska’s natural,
cultural and recreational
resources and help the
Commission further its
mission.
1984 – The Nebraska
Wildlife Conservation
Fund was created, allowing
citizens to donate all or
part of their state income
tax refund or make a direct
tax-deductible donation to
help fund projects to benefit
nongame species.
In 1984, the Nebraska Wildlife Tax Checkoff was created, helping
fund projects benefitting nongame species, including one that
brought peregrine falcons to the Woodmen Tower in Omaha.
Tales Magazine, Aquatic
Education, Becoming
an Outdoors-Woman
workshops, Outdoor Skills
Camps, Fishing in Nebraska
Schools and many more.
acquired in 1930, was
abandoned because of rising
water levels caused by the
creation of Lewis and Clark
Lake. The new park opened
in 1987.
1985 – Land was acquired
for the new Niobrara State
Park. The old park site,
1986 – Purchase of land
and development of Eugene
T. Mahoney State Park in
1984 – New legislation
allowed the Commission
and natural resource districts
to obtain instream-flow
rights in Nebraska rivers
and streams to conserve
water for fish, wildlife
and recreation. The firstever water right granted to
protect fisheries came in
1989 on Long Pine Creek.
In 1998, rights were granted
to protect fish and wildlife
habitat in 250 miles of the
central and lower Platte
River.
1984 – A $5 Trout Stamp
was required to harvest trout.
1985 – The Commission
launched Project Wild in
Nebraska. The national
program trains educators
to teach kindergarten
through high school
students about wildlife
and natural resources. The
Commission has since
started other educational
endeavors aimed at youths
and adults, including Trail
PHOTO BY BOB GRIER
1969 – Enrollment in the
Acres for Wildlife program
began to encourage farmers
and ranchers to protect small
plots of wildlife habitat.
start a herd at Fort Robinson
State Park.
portion of the project was
completed, 4,100 birds had
been released. Dark goose
hunting in the region, which
had closed in 1969, resumed
in 1980. The successful
program continued
elsewhere in the state until
1997, when the captive
flock of Canada geese at the
Sacramento-Wilcox Wildlife
Management Area was
disbanded.
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
1964 – The first modernday pronghorn hunting
season was held in the
Sandhills.
1975 – The Legislature
enacted the Nongame and
Endangered Species Act,
declaring that it is in the
public interest “to preserve,
protect, perpetuate, and
enhance” all species in the
state. Under this act, species
becoming rare within the
state receive protection, as
well as those included on
the national threatened and
endangered species lists.
muzzleloading rifle deer
hunting season was held on
DeSoto National Wildlife
Refuge, the first black
powder hunting season
in the state’s history. A
statewide muzzleloader
season began in 1989.
PHOTO BY MIKE FORSBERG
pass a Hunter Education
class before hunting.
Bowhunter Education was
added in 1993. Volunteer
instructors, the backbone of
the program, teach students
to be safe, respectful
and responsible hunters,
reducing hunting accidents
and fatalities. In 2016, about
600 volunteers donated
8,400 hours to teach 288
classes and certify 4,167
students.
Significant private donations raised by the Nebraska Game
and Parks Foundation helped build the ultra-modern Eugene T.
Mahoney State Park between Lincoln and Omaha.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 43
PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN
The Cowboy Recreation and Nature Trail, an abandoned Chicago & North Western rail line, was given to the Commission in 1994. It
has been developed from Norfolk to Valentine, where it crosses the Niobrara River on an old railroad bridge.
Cass County began. The
park, funded in large part by
private donations, opened in
1991.
1986 – Nebraska’s first
modern-day elk season
was held in the Pine Ridge.
Seasons have been held
annually since 1995.
1991 – The first confirmed
reports of a mountain lion
since the 19th century
came from tracks found
near Crawford. Soon after,
an adult lion was shot by
a hunter near Harrison.
Lions continue to find their
way into Nebraska from
neighboring states and have
established resident breeding
populations, leading to the
state’s first lion hunting
season in 2014.
following the ban of many
chemicals that decimated
populations of our nation’s
symbol, and protection from
the Endangered Species Act.
Expanding populations here
and elsewhere allowed the
bird to be removed from the
endangered species list in
2007. In 2016, there were a
record 159 active eagle nests
in the state.
1991 – Bald eagles
successfully nested in
Nebraska for the first time in
decades, part of a recovery
that began in the 1970s
1992 – Smith Falls State
Park, the site of the state’s
highest waterfall, was
established on the Niobrara
River near Valentine.
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
44 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
1997 – The Commission
launched the CRP-MAP
program, which paid
landowners to open their
land enrolled in the federal
Conservation Reserve
Program to public hunting.
The program started with
19,789 acres and has grown
into the Open Fields and
Waters program, which this
year opened 276,000 acres
to hunting and 424 acres of
private ponds and 41 miles
of private streams and rivers
to fishing.
1993 – The Belmont fish
ladder was completed on
the North Platte River near
Bridgeport, the first fishpassage structure placed on
any Nebraska stream.
1997 – The Commission
began stocking endangered
pallid sturgeon in the lower
Platte River as part of a
national recovery plan. The
agency’s involvement in the
fish, listed as endangered
in 1990, continues through
its intensive broodstock
collection program in the
Missouri River.
1994 – A gift from the
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
of 321 miles of abandoned
Chicago & North Western
rail line across northern
1998 – Two permits were
issued for Nebraska’s first
bighorn sheep hunting
season. By 2016, 21 permits
had been issued by lottery or
1992 – Commercial
harvesting of catfish in
the Missouri River was
discontinued.
The Angler Access Program, an offshoot of the Commission’s popular Aquatic Habitat Program,
is making it easier for people to fish at lakes across the state with projects such as the creation of
this fishing deck at Louisville State Recreation Area.
1997 – Nebraska anglers
were required to purchase
an Aquatic Habitat Stamp,
the first of its kind in the
nation, to help rehabilitate
and enhance aquatic habitat
in lakes and streams. The
Aquatic Habitat Program
has since spent $62 million,
including funding from 71
partners, to improve aquatic
habitat on 96 Nebraska
waters.
2002 – The Commission
launched its Focus on
Pheasants Program, a
cooperative effort with
Pheasants Forever and others
aimed at improving habitat
for the upland game bird and
other wildlife on public and
private land.
2005 – The Nebraska
Natural Legacy Project,
Nebraska’s version of the
Statewide Wildlife Action
Plan required by the U.S.
Congress, was initiated.
The project targeted habitat
management for at-risk
species through partnerships
and became a major part of
conservation in the state.
2005 – The first Missouri
River Outdoor Expo was
held at Ponca State Park,
offering hands-on activities
featuring outdoor education,
sports and recreation, with
one day for fifth graders
and two for anyone. The
free event is now the largest
in the Midwest, drawing
more than 50,000 people
annually. It spawned similar
Commission expos at Fort
Kearny and the Wildcat Hills
state recreation areas, and at
Platte River State Park for
school children.
2010 – The Commission
launched its Angler Access
Program, an offshoot of the
Aquatic Habitat Program, to
improve access and fishing
success for bank anglers.
By 2016, $6 million had
been spent on projects at 52
waters.
2011 – The Roger G.
Sykes Outdoor Heritage
Complex, the Commission’s
first shooting range, opened
at Platte River State Park,
offering archery, air rifle,
The Commission began stocking endangered pallid sturgeon
in the Platte River in 1997, one of many efforts that focuses on
rare or threatened species.
2016 - The Commission
launched its Berggren Plan,
a five-year cooperative effort
with other organizations
aimed at growing Nebraska’s
pheasant population and
increasing land open to
hunting in areas with
abundant pheasants,
with habitat and hunter
access, particularly for
youth, as cornerstones.
The plan is named for the
late Nebraska Game and
Parks Commissioner Lynn
Berggren. ■
firearm and shotgun ranges.
A similar range opened in
2016 at the Wildcat Hills
SRA.
2014 – The Nebraska
Outdoor Education Center,
an indoor archery and
firearm range, opened in
Lincoln.
2014 – The Commission
also opened its Outdoor
Encounter exhibit at
the Nebraska State Fair,
continuing a presence at the
state fair that dates to at least
1900.
2015 – The Commission,
in conjunction with the
Nebraska Game and Parks
Foundation, launched the
Venture Parks Complex,
which will expand programs
and amenities at Mahoney
and Platte River state parks
and Schramm and Louisville
state recreation areas to form
a recreation destination.
Construction on the multiyear-project will begin in
2017.
2016 – The Commission
adopted the Cool Water
Stream Management plan to
guide stewardship of streams
and ensure they will support
productive and sustainable
populations of cool water
aquatic life, have healthy
riparian zones and clean
water, and contribute to
watershed stability.
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
1994 – The Commission
became the first state game,
fish and parks agency in the
country to launch a website.
auction in all but five years
since, raising $1.2 million
for the sheep program.
PHOTO BY MIKE FORSBERG
Nebraska lead to creation
of the Cowboy Recreation
and Nature Trail. When
completed, it will be the
longest rails-to-trails
conversion in the country.
The Commission’s Focus on
Pheasants program improved
habitat for pheasants,
providing more birds for
hunters like Fox Lane of
Lincoln.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 45
Taking Kids Fishing
...and keeping it simple
By Julie Geiser
W
ith summer in full swing many anglers
are heading to lakes and ponds across
Nebraska for a great day of fishing. When
you venture out, take your kids fishing,
too. To keep them interested, make the
day fun and adventurous.
Getting Started
Most young kids won’t spend all day fishing, so allow
time for wading in the water, skipping stones, catching
frogs, floating sticks and leaves, playing ball and hide-and-
seek, collecting wild flowers and finding bugs. Join in the
fun as well. You may not get much fishing in, but you will
have spent quality time in the outdoors and you will spark
the interest in your child.
If you already fish, keep the simple basics of fishing in
mind when teaching kids. Children who have not fished
before will have the most fun and fewer tangles using small,
kid-sized rods with spincast reels – you will have fewer
problems fixing and untangling them, too. Spincast reels
allow casting by releasing a thumb button located on the reel
that is simple for kids to use.
Be prepared to tie the knots, bait the hooks and possibly
Spincast Reel
46 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
PHOTOS BY JULIE GEISER
Kids fish at a Carp-O-Rama
event at Lake Maloney State
Recreation Area in Lincoln
County.
Dillon Lorensen, left, Paislee Erickson and Lexus Erickson search for bait at a family fishing event at
Birdwood Wildlife Management Area in Lincoln County.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 47
Introduce young
anglers to fishing
strategies,
including how to
properly bait a
worm on a hook
in loops.
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
Lexus Erickson is pictured catching
large bluegill out of a small pond.
The bluegill were just short of master
angler status.
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
PHOTO BY DOUG CARROLL
Anglers participate in a Family Fishing Night at Bowling Lake in Lancaster County.
even make the casts. You may have to take the fish off of
the hook when the kids land one, but let them know they can
lend a hand at any time. Be sure to let them reel in the fish,
as that’s the fun part and it is a good learning experience and
confidence builder for the future.
Use simple baits – worms, grasshoppers, crickets or
minnows on a small hook with a bobber and split-shot
weight that are fished on the bottom. These allow the fish
to find the bait instead of the repeated casting required
when fishing with lures. However, older kids will like to
cast and reel; the constant casting and reeling keeps them
busy.
To keep kids’ attention, fish lakes containing species that
are easily caught such as trout, bluegill, crappie, bass and
48 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
carp. Then, pack a simple sack lunch, snacks and drinks that
can be enjoyed by everyone in the group. An outdoor meal,
complete with a blanket for a midday picnic, may just be the
most exciting part of the day for a young angler.
Finally, make the trip short if needed. It is better to leave
when the kids start to lose interest so they remember the
fishing trip as a happy time. Don’t have a set time frame. It
is better for children to leave wishing they could stay a little
longer than for them to wish they had left sooner. These
trips will cement relationships and introduce kids to nature,
the value of the environment, and the importance of fish and
game laws. They will learn about a sport that they can enjoy
their entire lives, and you will spend quality time making
memories together.
Barnett Park in Red Willow County sees many visitors with several attractions such as
fishing, playground equipment, wildlife, walking, jogging and picnicking.
Rules and Ethics
Teaching young anglers to do outdoor activities the correct
way makes everyone’s outdoor experiences better. The
following list will get you started on creating a lifelong,
ethical angler.
Make sure that you have the proper licenses and that
you are fishing legally. Read the new fishing rules and
regulations in the 2017 Fishing Guide, available online at
OutdoorNebraska.org/guides. The fishing guide will give
you bag and possession limits, public fishing areas and
which fish can be caught at those areas. The guide also
provides master angler information and other regulations that
may come up when you are fishing.
If you are going to eat your catch, teach kids size and
•
•
bag limits and keep only what you will eat. You can also
introduce children to the concept of catch-and-release, which
allows fish to live for future fishing fun and teaches them
good fishing ethics.
Instill responsibility by pointing out the importance
of not littering. Trash makes for an ugly place to fish and
discarded line can snag and kill fish, birds, turtles, small
mammals and frogs. Take all your trash out with you or
discard it in appropriate trash containers. ■
•
Be sure to attend one of the Commission’s free family
fishing events held across the state this year. For a list of
these events, visit the Nebraska Game and Parks website at
OutdoorNebraska.org.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 49
Mirror
Image
By Renae Blum
T
ick. Tick. Tick. The seconds pass been some complaining about standing
in the sun too long. Cody Mobley of
one after another, and for just a
Fort McKavett, Texas, has traveled
few handfuls of time, the scene
more than 700 miles to Rock Creek
stands almost perfectly still.
Station State Historical Park east
In the foreground is a man astride
of Fairbury, Nebraska, with all his
a horse, nonchalantly holding up a
photography supplies in the back of
bottle of something – gin, perhaps?
his pickup: batches of chemicals, a
The midday sun paints harsh shadows
portable darkroom, a handmade
below him. Behind him is a
wooden camera. He and
snaking pathway in the
more than 20 costumed
dirt, obviously wellpeople, along with
traveled. Crammed
a local stagecoach
up against the path
owner, are here
are buildings – a
to attempt the
toll bridge cabin,
impossible:
a bunkhouse,
recreating the
a barn – with
past.
people arranged
Getting
in front, turned
everything
toward the
and everybody
camera. Off
in place
to the left is
takes about
a full team of
half an hour.
horses and a
Mobley and
stagecoach.
his friends have
It is 1860,
already spent
and the people
a considerable
at Rock Creek
amount of time
Station have come
walking around a
into a bit of luck.
nearby hill trying to
A traveling wet plate
determine where the
photographer is here,
with all his chemicals
Wet plate photographer original photographer was
standing when he took the
and supplies in tow. He
Cody Mobley
picture. It wasn’t easy to
arranges the scene, they
find an approximate spot – after all, a
obediently pose, and afterward, he gets
lot changes in 156 years.
his money, the owner of the place gets
a unique keepsake, and life at this busy
stage stop resumes.
In its heyday, Rock Creek Station
Now, let’s shoot forward 156 years,
was both a Pony Express station and a
into August 2016. It’s hot. There has
stage stop along the Oregon-California
50 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
This rare 1860 daguerreotype was discovered at the California State Library in Sacramento, and it is the only known photo of Rock
Creek Station during its operation.
Trail. Here, mid-19th century travelers
of all kinds could stop and rest, and
purchase a range of supplies at the
ranch store: whiskey, tobacco, flour,
sugar, salt pork, coffee, tea and other
goods were common offerings. Before
it became a road ranch, the area was
already popular with travelers such as
fur trappers and traders, thanks to its
abundant natural grasses for grazing,
the clear waters of Rock Creek, and
its shady oaks, cottonwoods and elms.
Several people spotted the potential for
business here: first, brothers S.C. and
Newton Glenn, who set up a humble
trading post, and then David McCanles,
who is believed to be the horseman
pictured in the 1860 photograph. A
North Carolina sheriff and military
academy graduate, McCanles dreamed
of striking it rich in the gold fields of
Colorado. He became disillusioned on
his way there after continually meeting
with empty-handed miners on their
way back East, and switched tactics,
purchasing Rock Creek Station in
1859.
Rock Creek was one of the most
difficult crossings on the OregonCalifornia Trail, requiring travelers to
undergo the arduous process of hoisting
their wagons up and down its steep,
rocky banks. Seizing an opportunity
for business, McCanles built a bridge
and charged travelers a toll of 10 to
50 cents to cross, depending on their
ability to pay and the size of the load.
McCanles also divided the property
into east and west ranches, continuing
to use the West Ranch as an emigrant
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 51
PHOTO BY ?????????????
PHOTO BY RENAE BLUM
Prior to shooting the photo re-creation, Mobley cleans the glass plate the image will be
exposed onto, standing next to his darkbox.
52 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
and McCanles threatened to come in
and drag him out. He was then shot
– unarmed – by a young ranch hand
named James Butler Hickok.
Hearing the shot, McCanles’ cousin
James Woods and friend James Gordon
ran from the barn to help, only to be
wounded by Hickok’s pistol. Wellman
emerged from the cabin with a grub
hoe and clubbed Woods to death. He
took a swing at Monroe, who fled and
successfully escaped. Gordon wasn’t
so lucky – he was shot to death by
stock tender J.W. “Doc” Brink. In a
30-minute trial, the men pled selfdefense and were acquitted. Because
of his age, Monroe was not allowed to
testify.
The incident launched Hickok into
dime store novel fame and helped earn
him the nickname “Wild Bill” Hickok.
(According to Harper’s Magazine,
Hickok fought off the fearsome
“McCanles gang” single-handedly,
PHOTO BY CODY MOBLEY
stop, and improving the East Ranch by
building a cabin and a well. In 1860, he
leased the East Ranch to the Russell,
Majors and Waddell Company,
founders of the Pony Express, who
established Rock Creek Station as the
second Pony Express relay station in
Nebraska. The company purchased the
East Ranch from McCanles in 1861,
but soon fell behind in payments as the
Pony Express slid into financial failure.
Things came to a head on July 12,
1861. McCanles – accompanied by his
12-year-old son, Monroe – approached
the East Ranch cabin to speak with
station keeper Horace Wellman,
intending to demand full payment or
repossession of the property. No one
can say for certain what happened
next, but the likely events have been
reconstructed based on an account
written by Monroe 54 years later.
The affair was brief and vicious.
Wellman refused to come to the door,
The re-created photograph of Rock Creek Station, by Cody Mobley, shot in August 2016.
despite being gravely wounded.) Wild
Bill went on to create a legendary
career as a gunfighter, soldier, spy and
wagon master. He died at age 39, shot
in the back of the head while playing
poker in a saloon in Deadwood, South
Dakota. His hand of cards – said to be
two pairs of aces and eights – is known
as “the dead man’s hand.”
Over time, the westward flow of
travelers shifted elsewhere, and the
arrival of the railroad and telegraph
put traffic on the Oregon-California
Trail at a standstill. Rock Creek Station
fell into disrepair, and the buildings
vanished. The land was used for
farming, though landowners took care
not to disturb the wagon wheel ruts,
which are still visible today.
In 1980, the Nebraska State
Historical Society began researching
the grounds to help the Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission reconstruct
the buildings. High-tech instruments
were used to analyze the structures’
foundations, but little else was as
precious to their work as a rare 1860
daguerreotype discovered at the
California State Library in Sacramento
– the only known photo of Rock Creek
Station during its operation.
It provides a clear picture of the
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 53
“We wanted to give the park a
tangible artifact,” said Mitch Critel,
explaining why he and his friends
wanted to re-create the historic 1860
Rock Creek Station photograph. “The
original belongs to someone else. The
thinking was that the park could use
it for publicity or whatever else they
might need it for.”
Critel is part of a band of volunteers
who regularly put on living history
events at Rock Creek Station State
Historical Park. The photo re-creation
took place during a living history event
that required a year and a half to plan,
and involved living historians from
around the country who drove in to
help out. One of them was Critel’s old
friend, 33-year-old Cody Mobley.
“I knew Cody was really getting
into the experimentation of wet plate
photography,” Critel said. “Since I was
able to talk him into making the long
haul up here, I knew we could give it
a shot.”
Wet plate photography is one of the
earliest forms of photography and was
the dominant process used from the
1850s to the 1880s. It is called “wet
plate” because the image is exposed
onto a plate of glass that has been
submerged in a bath of silver nitrate,
and the picture must be developed
before the solution dries. From start to
finish, the entire process typically takes
Mobley less than seven minutes.
Mobley has shot historic photo
re-creations before; it’s not uncommon
for wet plate photographers. But Rock
Creek Station holds a special allure
as a subject. It has almost no modern
intrusions and provides a photographer
with an entire scene of historically
accurate buildings to play with.
Because of the type of photograph
they were shooting, both Mobley and
his 1860s photographer counterpart
had to be especially sensitive to the
conditions and weather around them.
“Any dust that’s blowing can affect
the plate, any moisture in the air,
even a cloud rolling in,” Mobley said.
“There are so many variants that go on
while you’re shooting, so you have to
adjust on your feet; that’s the art of it.”
Because of this, wet plate
photography is one of the hardest
forms of photography to master. It
took Mobley a month or two to feel
confident with the wet plate process,
and he remembers his elation when he
made his first successful image.
The original Rock Creek photograph
is a daguerreotype, the form of
photography directly preceding
wet plate. Mobley thinks that the
photographer used the daguerreotype
process because it was going out of
style and, thus, was cheaper. (Mobley
uses wet plate himself, rather than
the daguerreotype process, because
today, it’s less expensive, easier, and
more historically accurate for the
PHOTO BY CODY MOBLEY
East Ranch at its peak: the cabin
where McCanles would be murdered,
the barn and bunkhouse, and the toll
bridge cabin on the right. The West
Ranch sits in the distance, surrounded
by the Oregon-California Trail path.
Nearly-indiscernible figures dot the
scene: three people gathered by the
bunkhouse, a man sitting on the
stoop of the toll bridge cabin, the
stagecoach driver, and the mysterious
figure, believed to be McCanles, in the
foreground. Little did they know that
their likenesses – and the buildings
surrounding them – would be pored
over more than a century later by
researchers, history buffs, living history
interpreters and a modern-day wet plate
photographer from Texas.
While at Rock Creek Station, Mobley shot a pastoral scene of haymakers cutting grass on the East Ranch.
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
The East Ranch buildings pictured are the cabin where McCanles was murdered, left, the bunkhouse, the Pony Express barn, and
the toll bridge cabin across from it. Mobley and the original photographer stood approximately where the red dot is.
54 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
historic site that he manages.) He
speculates that the photographer shot
pictures professionally, as an itinerant
photographer traveling the OregonCalifornia Trail in a photographic
van. “Like a gypsy van, a travelling
dark room,” Mobley said. Did the
photographer ever stop his journeys to
go home?
“Usually they’re itinerants because
they really didn’t have anything back
East to live for. They didn’t have a
home there,” he said.
Itinerant photographers advertised
their services via letter or by the
lettering on the side of their vans
as they traveled. They’d stay at a
particular site, shooting whatever paid
until business dried up. The profession
was open to anyone, male or female,
young or old, who had the money to
buy chemicals and equipment.
Mobley began shooting wet plate
photographs to document programs
at the historic site that he manages,
Fort McKavett. Lately, wet plate has
become a side business for him as
well as a service he volunteers to other
historic sites. The Rock Creek Station
shoot was his first time traveling out
of state to shoot wet plate. He has also
begun holding workshops for others
interested in learning the process.
He was happy to help Critel and his
other friends at Rock Creek Station
re-create the photo.
“If they hold more events, I’ll
definitely come back and support it,”
he said.
To see more of Cody Mobley’s work,
visit facebook.com/rubyambrotypes.
To read more about Rock Creek
Station State Historical Park and plan
a visit, go to OutdoorNebraska.org/
rockcreekstation.
Rock Creek Station
State Historical Park
Located approximately 6 miles east
of Fairbury in Jefferson County, Rock
Creek Station State Historical Park
encompasses 350 acres of prairie
hilltops, timber-studded creek bottoms
and rugged ravines. Deep ruts carved by
travelers on the Oregon-California Trail
are still visible near the visitors center.
Besides its draw as a historical site,
the park offers a generous picnicking
area, six miles of trails for hiking, biking
and horseback riding, and a modern
campground on the adjacent Rock Creek
Station State Recreation Area.
For more information, contact the park at
402-729-5777. Rock Creek Station SHP is
located at 57426 710th Rd. in Fairbury.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 55
Blowouts
A Unique Feature of the Sandhills
Story and photos by Chris Helzer
B
lowouts have a bad reputation. In
sports, a blowout is humiliating for
the losing team and sometimes even
a little boring for the winners. A tire
blowout can ruin your whole day and
potentially lead to a serious accident. In
the Nebraska Sandhills, a “blowout” is a
site where scouring winds have created
bare ground and actively move sand. Most
Sandhills ranchers look at blowouts the
same way most farmers look at weedy
fields – as indicators of poor management.
Despite their low standing among
ranchers, however, Sandhills blowouts
provide important habitat for many plant
and animal species. If you were to walk up
to a Sandhills blowout in the middle of a
summer day, your first impression might
be that it is devoid of life. A closer look,
though, reveals a much different story.
The margins of the blowout are a
battleground where feisty plant species
are constantly straining for a foothold in
shifting sands. Predatory insects roam
the open sandy terrain, hunting down
small flies and other invertebrates, while
well-camouflaged grasshoppers feed on
the sparse vegetation, and tiny holes in
the sand indicate the nests of sand wasps
and other little burrowing creatures.
Tracks of lizards, toads, beetles, grouse,
and both large and small mammals are
also scattered across blowouts, providing
evidence of a much more active animal
community than might be evident at first
glance.
Right: A prairie lizard hunts in the open sand of a
Sandhills blowout.
Opposite: Tracks are seen outside the entrance of
a kangaroo rat burrow, the most abundant mammal
found in blowouts.
Top: A large and very active blowout is seen at The
Nature Conservancy’s Niobrara Valley Preserve in
Brown County.
56 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 57
first, to be a colony of independent plants is often
one large plant with many shoots emerging from
a vast and interconnected network of underground
rhizomes.
Strongly rhizomatous grasses such as blowout
grass and prairie sandreed are commonly found
near the actively eroding edges of blowouts where
few other plants can survive. Lemon scurfpea and
blowout penstemon are examples of wildflowers with
similar strategies. Other plant species often seen in
and around blowouts include sand lovegrass, plains
muhly, winged dock and painted milkvetch.
All of these plants can help stabilize shifting sands
enough that other species can begin to fill in around
them, beginning a process of revegetation. Ironically,
revegetation brings more competitive plants that
usually end up eliminating the early colonizers that
made it all possible.
Blowout grass (opposite, top) is one of the first colonizers of many
blowouts, and, along with painted milkvetch (opposite, bottom) and
the endangered blowout penstemon (left), helps to stabilize blowing
sands enough to allow other plants to become established. As
those plants gain a foothold, blowouts like the one pictured below
can slowly become revegetated.
D
uring the last couple of years, I’ve been trying
to learn as much as I can about blowouts. I’ve
always been drawn to blowouts as a photographer
because they are great places to find tracks and
other interesting patterns in the sand, and because
insects, lizards and toads can’t hide behind
vegetation when I’m trying to photograph them.
More recently, however, I’ve begun realizing
how little is actually known about the
ecology of blowouts.
We know quite a bit about how
blowouts form, and botanists have
documented the plant species that most
often grow in blowouts. Surprisingly,
though, there is very little known about
the communities of animals using
blowouts as habitat. Because of that,
I’ve been paying attention to plants,
but trying even harder to document
the insects, lizards, toads and other
creatures I find in blowouts, hoping
to better understand the value of these
areas of open sand that annoy ranchers
but seem to attract many Sandhills
animals.
58 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Active blowouts are largely unvegetated, of
course, but plants are constantly working to
change that. The biggest challenge to plants
growing in and around blowouts is to somehow
anchor themselves in open, moving sand. Most
of the grasses and wildflowers in blowouts are
using an extensive web of rhizomes (underground
stems) to hold them in place. What appears, at
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 59
S
parse vegetation in blowouts may mean a
scarcity of food for cattle and other large
herbivores, but it creates fantastic habitat for
many other animals. Blowouts often draw
animals to their warm sun-heated sands on
cool days, and many birds and mammals use
blowouts as a place for dust baths to clean
themselves and manage parasite loads.
Burrowing animals, ranging in size from
kangaroo rats to tiny sand wasps, tunnel into
blowouts to create nesting and food storage
dens. Maintaining a burrow in an environment
defined by blowing sand must be quite a
task. I’ve watched sand wasps clean out the
opening of their tunnel, only to have it almost
immediately closed up again by blowing sand.
Above, Left to Right: Punctured tiger beetle (Cicendela
punctulata), big sand tiger beetle (C. formosa), and festive tiger
beetle (C. scutellaris).
Below: A robber fly has just caught a sandy tiger beetle (C.
limbata).
L
arge numbers of insects can be found roaming the open sand,
including grasshoppers, beetles and large numbers of flies
and other tiny winged creatures. The abundance of potential prey
draws predators like toads and lizards, along with many species
of tiger beetles and other predatory insects such as wasps and
robber flies. Because there is little cover to hide behind, many
of these predators sit still for long periods of time and then use
quick bursts of speed to catch prey that stray too close.
As I was photographing a tiger beetle last summer, I crept too
close and the wary beetle opened its wings and took off. In an
instant, a large robber fly exploded from the ground nearby and
nabbed the beetle right out of the air. The two fell to the ground
together where the fly quickly killed and ate the beetle. In open
ground, bursts of speed help catch prey, but they also make you
visible to other predators.
Sandhills blowouts are usually found on upper slopes of steep
dunes where strong northwest winds can pick up and move exposed
grains of sand, especially during the winter and early spring. Most
commonly, blowouts originate in places where repeated heavy grazing
or vehicle travel has weakened or removed vegetation, leaving sand
unanchored and unbuffered against wind erosion. Once a blowout
gets started, actively blowing sand across the surface of the ground
can make it difficult for plants to establish there, helping to perpetuate
the blowout’s existence.
Most ranchers try to prevent the formation of blowouts by using
conservative stocking rates and strategic grazing rotations. Many
also are careful about where they drive vehicles to avoid triggering
blowouts along well-used paths on steep slopes. Once blowouts form,
ranchers use various techniques to try to get them to heal up again.
Excluding livestock with temporary fences can help, and sometimes
hay or even old tires are spread on the ground in an attempt to cover
bare sand and slow erosion. ■
60 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 61
W
e still have a lot to learn about the plants and
animals inhabiting blowouts, but I think it’s
clear that blowouts can be awfully difficult places to
live. The lack of vegetation means there is no place
to hide from the hot sun and predators, and the sand
is constantly shifting beneath your feet (or roots).
Burrowing beneath the sand seems like a good
idea, but even then the sand just blows your tunnel
shut.
Sandhills ranchers are unlikely to change their
unfavorable attitudes toward blowouts, and I get
that. However, blowouts are a natural and integral
part of the Sandhills, and even the most careful
grazing management won’t completely eliminate
them. As long as there are choppy hills and strong
winds there will be blowouts. While that might be
an unsettling reality for ranchers, it helps ensure the
survival of many other members of the Sandhills
community. Those other citizens might not pay taxes
but they certainly work for their living. ■
62 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Above: A beetle makes its way across a broad expanse of
bare sand.
Below: A sand wasp cleans out the entrance of its burrow
as wind gusts blow sand right back in.
Above: A grasshopper shows off its extraordinary camouflage as it sits in a
blowout.
Below: Woodhouse’s toads are commonly seen in and around blowouts.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 63
Northern
Prairies
Land Trust
a partner in landscape conservation
By Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
F
and fence posts.
Despite the challenges, the pasture’s
tenant, rancher Jon Immink, had
minimized his worries. He had
gathered a fleet of battered, old
pickups and rangers equipped with
pumper units, and his burn crew –
consisting of his son, Jacob, neighbors
and three Northern Prairies Land Trust
(NPLT) biologists – was experienced.
The latter assist with dozens of
prescribed burns each year, and their
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
rom the looks of it, this would
be a tough prescribed fire.
Highly flammable cedars grew
thick among the dry prairie grass
and the pasture’s rough topography
could send the March winds swirling,
throwing embers from burning cedars
in all directions. If these smoldering
brands landed in the adjacent pastures
and started spot fires, the flames could
race across the hills to the next county
road, burning the neighbors’ forage
Rolling hills cloaked with tallgrass prairie and draws lined with bur oaks survive in the Sandstone Prairies Biologically
Unique Landscape of Jefferson and Thayer counties.
know-how would prove handy during
tense moments of the fire.
The Immink burn was just one of
hundreds of conservation projects that
NPLT has helped implement in eastern
Nebraska prairies and oak woodlands
over the past 15 years. Working in
partnership with the Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission and other
conservation groups, their results are
exceptional.
PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER
A red-cedar-filled draw erupts into flame during a prescribed burn on Immink
Ranch in the Sandstone Prairies Biologically Unique Landscape.
64 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
The Partnership
The Northern Prairies Land
Trust was formed in 1999 in Sioux
Falls, South Dakota, by a group of
conservation-minded lawyers. Initially
they did typical land trust work in
Nebraska and South Dakota: helping
landowners protect prairies, streams
or other natural features by placing
voluntary conservation easements on
properties. In 2005, however, their role
in Nebraska expanded.
That year, conservation groups
finalized the Nebraska Natural
Legacy Project, a detailed plan to
preserve Nebraska’s biodiversity in
40 Biologically Unique Landscapes
(BULs) scattered throughout the
state. BULs are areas with high
concentrations of remnant native
prairies, woodlands or wetlands and
therefore offer the best opportunity to
conserve our native flora and fauna.
With a plan in place on paper, the
Commission now needed biologists to
make it a reality on the landscape. This
is where NPLT came to play a key role
in the success of the Legacy Project.
“As a state agency, we have limits
on the number of employees we can
hire,” said Alicia Hardin, Commission
wildlife division administrator.
“Northern Prairies, however, was able
to hire staff and put them in our offices
and we worked as a team. We are so
privileged to have them in Nebraska.”
Stationed in Beatrice, Jarren Kuipers
was the first NPLT employee in
Nebraska. He worked primarily in
the Sandstone Prairies and Southeast
Prairies BULs which have expansive
tracts of remnant tallgrass prairie.
These prairies were spared from
conversion to cropland because their
sandstone- and glacial till-derived soils
were often too shallow or rocky for
plowing.
In 2006, Kuipers was joined by
Kent Pfeiffer. The pair had a knack for
writing Nebraska Environmental Trust
Northern Prairies Land Trust
biologists implement conservation
primarily in the above mapped
Biologically Unique Landscapes:
1) Middle Niobrara, 2) Keya Paha,
3) Verdigris-Bazile, 4) Ponca Bluffs,
5) Indian Cave Bluffs, 6) Rulo
Bluffs, 7) Southeast Prairies and
8) Sandstone Prairies.
JUNE 2017• NEBRASKAland 65
PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER
Biologists Kelly Corman (left, NPLT), Cassidy Wessel (NGPC), Jen Corman (then Nebraska Forest Service, currently
NPLT) and Josh Kounovsky (NGPC) plan an oak woodland project on the Niobrara River bluffs in Brown County.
66 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
annual Tallgrass Prairie Seminar held
at Southeast Community College in
Beatrice. The seminar consistently
attracts about 100 landowners and
conservationists who have the
opportunity to learn about prairie,
woodland and wetland management
practices and how they can be applied
to improve the health of the land they
own or manage.
Managing Oak
Woodlands in State
Parks
For a millennia in spring and fall,
Native Americans set fire to eastern
Nebraska’s oak woodlands with the
intent of maintaining open groves for
hunting and food gathering. With tree
densities limited, plentiful sunlight
reached the woodland floor stimulating
wildflowers, fruit-bearing shrubs and
the saplings of the sun-loving oaks.
Euroamerican settlement brought
the suppression of wildfires, and the
woods are now thick with brush and
shade-tolerant trees, such as elms and
hackberries. Under the dense shade, the
seedlings of bur, black and other oaks
now wither for want of sun, and as
the mighty, old oaks die, there are few
young trees to replace them. Southern
flying squirrels, timber rattlesnakes and
other wildlife dependent on open oak
woods are in severe decline.
Located on the rugged Missouri
River bluffs, Indian Cave and Ponca
state parks are home to some of
the largest and best remaining oak
woodlands in eastern Nebraska.
Extensive woodlands also occur on
private lands bordering the parks.
Unfortunately, bustling day-to-day
activities in the two parks limit the
staffs’ time to manage the more than
3,000 acres of woods found there.
Fortunately, in 2011, NPLT came to
the Commission’s aid when they hired
the first of three woodland managers for
the Indian Cave Bluffs, Ponca Bluffs
and Rulo Bluffs BULs. On hot and
humid summer days, Krista Lang and
Chance Brueggemann are often deep in
the mosquito-infested woods at Indian
Cave State Park pulling flowering plants
of the invasive garlic mustard or are
herbicide-spraying the noxious sericea
lespedeza on ridgetop prairies.
In fall, they prepare fire breaks and
conduct prescribed burns. On cold
winter days, James Baker can be found
Butterfly milkweed is
one of many wildflowers
that have responded
well to tree thinning and
prescribed fire in oak
woodlands at Indian Cave
State Park.
cutting cedars from the oak woods
at Ponca State Park. Diverse funding
sources allow the three to also help
manage oak woods and prairies on
private lands and Commission Wildlife
Management Areas (WMA). Baker, for
example, controls unwanted brush at
Wiseman and Basswood WMAs which
overlook the Missouri River in northern
Nebraska while Lang and Brueggemann
PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER
grants and procuring project funds
from other conservation partners, such
as the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
To date, NPLT has completed nearly
330 projects which have enhanced
roughly 70,000 acres of prairie and
oak woods in the Sandstone Prairies
and Southeast Prairies landscapes. By
providing cost-share to landowners,
they remove invasive red-cedars and
brush, implement prescribed fire and
planned grazing, and reseed cropland
to grassland. These projects benefit
biodiversity and simultaneously
improve pasture quality and the
ranchers’ bottom line.
Though Kuipers has since left for
other professional endeavors, six
other NPLT staff have joined Pfeiffer
in Nebraska. Five are biologists
implementing similar conservation
projects in the Indian Cave Bluffs,
Keya Paha, Middle Niobrara, Ponca
Bluffs, Rulo Bluffs and VerdigrisBazile BULs.
Jamie Bachmann is an education
specialist housed in the Commission’s
Norfolk office. Her mission is to
spread NPLT’s conservation message
in the classroom and other settings.
A popular event started by Kuipers,
and now organized by Pfeiffer, is the
help private landowners burn oak woods
in southeastern Nebraska.
The trio’s impact at Ponca and Indian
Cave is visibly evident. Tree densities
are lower, the woods are more open,
and ridgetop prairies are expanding.
At Indian Cave, wildflowers not seen
in years, such as bastard toadflax, pale
gentian and butterfly milkweed are
again providing summer color. Perhaps
most exciting, with ample sun-light,
the young oaks now have a chance of
reaching adulthood.
Private Lands
Conservation
Because Nebraska’s rural landscape
is 97 percent privately owned, the
JUNE 2017• NEBRASKAland 67
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
Piles of cut red-cedars dot a prairie in the Sandstone Prairies. NPLT provides
cost-share to landowners to cut cedars if they agree to conduct follow up
prescribed burns to prevent re-invasion.
68 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
other events and there is little chance
of recolonization without other prairies
nearby. In native landscapes species
can move about, repopulating lost
habitats. “Prairies and woodlands need
to be managed at the scale required by
species,” added Pfeiffer.
By working in our remaining
native landscapes, conservationists
also get more bang for their limited
conservation bucks. For instance, if
nesting cover for prairie chickens is
lacking in a landscape, a single grazing
management project, which includes
resting pastures allowing for denser
grass growth for nesting, could enhance
chicken populations for miles around.
Conservation projects in landscapes
also tend to build on themselves.
“When you help a rancher with cedar
cutting or prescribed burning in their
pasture, the word spreads pretty fast
and soon you are working with the
neighbor, and then the people a few
miles up the road,” said Pfeiffer.
Ranchers Jon and Jacob Immink
have worked closely with NPLT in
the Sandstone Prairies for many years.
“We have been ranching in these
Jefferson County hills for 30 years
and were probably some of the first
people Jarren Kuipers worked with,”
said Jon Immink. The Imminks have
PHOTO BY GERRY STEINAUER
involvement of farmers and ranchers
is critical if we are to conserve our
biodiversity. “Private land conservation
is all about developing relationships
with landowners and gaining their
trust,” said Pfeiffer. He explained that
many problems in native habitats result
from inadequate management and can
be alleviated. Cedar invasion in prairie
is the classic example. “Pastures are
often managed in ways that promote
invasion by cedars and other trees. My
job is to show landowners approaches
to management that sustain prairies, not
brush.”
Pfeiffer also stressed the importance
of conserving native landscapes,
explaining that many wildlife species
require large blocks of un-fragmented
habitat. A viable population of prairie
chickens, the quintessential tallgrass
prairie bird, for example, requires
thousands of acres of open, treeless
grassland with a variety of grass
densities for wintering, booming,
nesting and brood rearing. “An 80-acre
prairie surrounded by cropland will not
support prairie chickens,” said Pfeiffer.
Native plants and insects also fare
better in large landscapes. In small,
isolated prairies, for example, species
are often extirpated by herbicide or
pesticide spraying, overgrazing or
NPLT’s Chance Brueggemann gazes upon the smoldering aftermath of the prescribed burn on the Immink pasture.
The early March fire resulted in the nearly complete kill of all red-cedars less than 10 feet tall.
completed over a dozen cedar and
brush management and prescribed burn
projects through NPLT on the nearly
4,500 acres of pasture they own or
lease.
“We started by cutting cedars off
the uplands,” said Immink. “Then we
looked at our draws and creek bottoms.
This was the best ground on the place,
but they were filthy with brush and
trees and worthless for grazing.” Costshare funds provided by NPLT helped
the Imminks with the projects on their
own lands, and they were essential
on the pastures they lease from
elderly owners who lack the financial
resources to control woody plants.
The Imminks have also become
staunch believers in using prescribed
fire to enhance pastures, and they
promote the practice to other area
ranchers. Though their initial burns
were small, spring fires, they and their
neighbors will now jointly burn over
a thousand acres of pasture. Pfeiffer,
Lang and Brueggemann often help with
the more complicated burns.
Recently, Pfeiffer convinced the
Imminks to try winter burning. “Winter
burns are really great for killing
cedars. Their foliage is so dry that they
succumb easily to the heat and flames,”
said Jon Immink. “The winter fires also
creep through the low ground killing
brush. Later in spring, the grass in
the bottoms is too green to burn. Our
burned pastures always have the best
summer grass and the cows love them.”
Cattle are not the only animals
responding well to the Imminks’ prairie
management. “Our cedar cutting and
fire has done great things for wildlife.
We now see large flocks of prairie
chickens, and quail are everywhere
in our pastures,” said Immink. “The
chickens boom in spring on one of
our hilltop prairies so we graze the
area short each year so the birds will
return.”
Over the years, Jon Immink and
Pfeiffer have spent hours together
driving pastures discussing prairie
wildlife and management. Their time
together has forged a mutual trust
which was evident during critical
moments of Immink’s prescribed fire
when he relied on Pfeiffer’s experience
and advice. The fire training of other
NPLT staff also proved valuable.
When large cedars in a draw erupted
into flames and drifting embers started
spot fires in an adjacent pasture,
Brueggemann had anticipated the threat
and was waiting to dowse them with
water.
At the day’s end, the burn safely
done, the 130-acre pasture was littered
with scorched cedars, and relaxing
among friends, Jon Immink’s face
held a wide smile. Another successful
Northern Prairies Land Trust project
was complete. ■
JUNE 2017• NEBRASKAland 69
O Tannenbaum! O Tannenbaum!
Even the despised red-cedar has a place in nature.
By Roger Welsch
W
hen I bought this sandpile
on the north bank of the
Middle Loup River 40 years
ago, there was every chance
that one good windstorm
would blow the whole thing – sand,
cactus and all – into South Dakota. Of
course, genius that I am, I bought the
place under three feet of snow, and the
reality that I was in fact now the owner
of Nebraska’s Sahara only slowly came
to light as spring came on. Almost in
panic, I went to various conservation
organizations and begged for help,
which they most generously gave. We
soon had the ground planted to a rich
variety of native grasses, plants, bushes
and trees, and almost a mile of thick
treed windbreaks surrounded the most
fragile of the ground.
There was conversation in town
because for all the activity and noise I
made about planting tens of thousands
of trees on these 50 acres; for many
years, there wasn’t much to see since
what few saplings survived took
years to rise above the faster growing
grasses, chokecherries, plums, lead
plant and honeysuckle.
And now that we are surrounded
by a dense wall of soaring ash, longneedle pines and junipers, comes the
inevitable disappointment of the hopeful
conservationist: the elm are all gone,
the ash are threatened, and the pine
are dying all around us. But the tree
known here as red-cedar (Juniperus
virginiana)? Why, they’re doing fine!
Except everyone is cutting them
down, gouging them out, piling them
up and burning them. All at once, these
trees I worked so hard to plant and
water have become pariahs, as hated
as musk thistles. I point out that these
now-despised evergreens are the source
of gin and fine martinis – if you don’t
believe me, taste one of those little
blue-green berries! But that good news
will certainly fall on a deaf ear for
Nebraskans, whose tastes tend toward
light beer, blended whiskies, and bluegreen drinks that wear umbrellas.
70 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
My fondness for these prickly
arboreals stems from another feature
of the tree that might convince some
of you who are so intent on cleansing
the Plains of one of my favorites. Let
me tell you a story: A friend and I
were once floating the Platte between
Grand Island and Central City, one
of my favorite stretches of water in
Nebraska. The river was high and the
days were gorgeous. We feasted on
wild asparagus and gigantic morel
mushrooms we plucked from the bank
as we drifted by, only rarely dipping an
oar in the quiet water.
Then Nebraska did what Nebraska
does for such idylls: the sky went
suddenly dark, there were growls and
grumbles, and the rain began to fall
in torrents. We had no time to set a
tent, so we tied up the boat and dived
onto one of the thousands of small
islands that pass for “river” along that
stretch. We were lucky. Right at our
mooring was a gigantic red-cedar – a
real giant. And I suspect there are many
of these venerable old-timers on the
Platte islands where they have escaped
fire and woodcutters for generations,
perhaps even more than a century. Its
overhanging lower branches covered a
circle maybe 30 feet across in which
nothing else was growing and the duff
under it was soft as a pillow.
We hunkered down against the huge
trunk and broke out some sandwiches
while the storm raged around us. I told
my buddy we were safe because both
homesteaders and Indians, such as the
Omahas and Pawnees, believed cedars
were good protection against lightning.
That’s why we can often spot old
homesteads where all the buildings are
gone but two big cedar trees still frame
where the front door of the long-gone
house opened. Whatever the folklore,
one thing was clear about this enormous
tree that was sheltering us: The wide,
sloping, dense branches and needles
formed an almost impenetrable shelter.
To our amazement while the rain poured
outside our cedar “tent,” we remained
dry and out of the wind in its cover.
The shelter was in fact so comfortable
and the experience so remarkable,
we called the day good and spent the
night sleeping right there, in a dry and
pleasant shelter provided by Mother
Nature.
And that’s why I have a fondness for
cedars to this very day. Occasionally
when Nebraska cuts loose, as it did
just last week, with raging winds and
pounding hail, peeling the paint off
our house and breaking windows, I
wonder about our neighbors – the crow
family of which I am so fond; a pair
of kestrels rescued, nursed to health
by Raptor Recovery and released
to freedom a couple weeks ago; the
resident mourning doves; turkeys;
deer; coyotes; the red fox behind
Linda’s studio; the great horned owl
we watched taking a pounding from
my crows a few days ago. How do they
fare in these storms when even we, in
a strong, firm house, wonder about our
safety?
Then we remember: They probably
saw it coming long before we did and
made ready; they’ve been through this
before and know quite well where to
go and what to do; and perhaps most
important of all, they have thousands
of big, old cedars to hide in and under.
My guess and my comfort is that they
are doing just fine. And sure enough,
the next morning when the sun is out,
the winds calm down, and the hail
melts away, there they all are, no worse
for the wear, and as far as we can see,
going on about their business as if they
hadn’t even noticed yesterday’s fury.
Like my boating partner and me, they,
too, sought shelter under one of our
big old cedar trees, now despised by so
many. ■
Roger Welsch is
an author, humorist
and folklorist. He
has written for
NEBRASKAland
Magazine since 1977.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 71
Out and About
The “What I Continue to Use” Product Review
Our Family Species Contest
These items have stood the test of time.
The term “On the Fly” has taken on even greater meaning in my home.
By Jeff Kurrus
By Jeff Kurrus
T
hrough the years I have
found it is increasingly
difficult to endorse new
outdoor products from
companies unless I have
spent considerably more time
vetting them than normally allowed.
A company will showcase a
new item, but then want nearly
immediate results on whether or not
that item warranted a review.
I have since ceased replying in
short order to these companies. I
want to give readers something that
stands the test of time. With that in mind, the following list of items are
products that have become part of my day-to-day life, those objects that
not only looked good out of the box, but have proven to be essential to
my outdoor pursuits. ■
This winter, I repeatedly used a Colorado-manufactured camouflage Fishmask
to keep my face and neck warm during ice-fishing season, then used that same
product to cover my face from an approaching tom during spring turkey season.
Featuring bandanas, single and double-layered tubes and balaclavas in a variety of
color patterns, these moisture-wicking products from Fishmask have become part
of my everyday outdoor supplies year-round. Fishmasks.com.
Despite having car, wall, and even
solar-powered cell phone chargers, I
still make sure my myCharge isn’t far
away. With adaptors for both Droid and
Apple products, this charger goes with
me on trips to the park with my kids
or trips to the fishing boat with friends
and family. It’s small, light-weight, and
can fit in my pocket. myCharge.com.
W
hile this might sound self-serving, nothing
influences my outdoor decisions more than
the work of my colleagues at NEBRASKAland
Magazine. The first time I read Jenny Nguyen’s
“Sleeping Outside” article in this month’s issue,
I immediately began preparing my first family tent camping
expedition of the year.
Last year, I had a similar response following Nguyen’s
“Species Contest at Gavins” article in our June issue, which
featured a group of friends who participated in an annual
contest each year at Gavins Point Dam that focused on how
many different species of fish they could catch.
My dad and I then took this idea in a slightly different
direction. We started our own species contest, but ours
focused on fish that we had caught on the fly.
Very quickly we picked up the same species – largemouth
bass, bluegill, black and white crappie, and rainbow trout –
and had to show proof through a photograph if we happened
to be fishing apart. But then it became interesting.
Dad caught a grass carp and a channel catfish, both major
hurdles during the summer fishing season to land with a fly
rod. In turn, a trip to the Pine Ridge offered me a brown
trout, and a summer excursion to Battle Lake, Minnesota,
saw me catch a smallmouth bass.
Then came the day that the longnose gar was feeding
at the surface. I worked this fish for nearly 30 minutes
trying to get him to hit, finally talking the fish into striking
a red popping bug. I couldn’t have been more thrilled to
catch a fish that I had rarely, if ever, thought about
before.
While I ended up losing the first annual family fishing
contest 11 to 9, it forced my dad and me to start learning
about the various fish species that Nebraska has to offer
outside of what we’ve been catching on the fly for years –
largemouth bass and bluegill.
Even a small fish became a huge accomplishment, as seen
when I increased my lead early this spring with my first ever
brook trout – an eight-inch beauty.
But dad quickly countered that with the season’s first
channel catfish, with ideas for where he can catch a redear
sunfish and bullhead. I have my work cut out for me, even
though I’ve now hired a team of fisheries biologists to help
me counter dad’s old-school trickery.
I hope it’s enough. If not, I definitely know a creek that
will give me a chance to catch a longnose gar, if I can just
talk him into hitting again this year. ■
A longnose gar caught on the
fly at a creek fed by the Platte
River in Sarpy County.
Billed as the world’s toughest
coffeemaker, the COFFEEBOXX
works with all K-Cup®-compatible
pods. With a 2.5 liter removable
water tank, what I like most about
this coffeemaker is its separate hotwater line, which can provide hot
water for a variety of purposes in
less than 40 seconds. It’s a musthave for the deer camp cabin.
Oxx.com.
I have filled up an entire NEBRASKAland Recycled Journal Book and
recently purchased another. With 100 sheets of lined pages and measuring 5.62
by 7 inches, it’s my go-to “I have to write this down” journal when afield or
sitting at the house.
72 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 73
74 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 75
Fishing in the Southwest
A summer profile of six reservoirs in this Nebraska region.
By Julie Geiser
S
76 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Primitive camping areas are tucked away at this area, but
there is plenty of space and beautiful sceneries at Rock Creek.
Swanson Reservoir has been stocked with blue catfish,
some of which are reaching the 28-inch mark, making for
excellent trophy fishing. Walleye, wipers, white bass and
channel catfish are also at Swanson. There are two boat
ramps available and the water levels are at 57 percent.
Swanson has several primitive camping locations along its
many boundaries and off trails three, four and seven. Two
modern campgrounds have electric hookups and amenities.
Harlan County Reservoir has three fish species that
drive the system: walleye, white bass and channel catfish.
Walleye are stocked annually as fry. Channel catfish have
been stocked at Harlan
Reservoir to boost
populations as needed.
When water levels
are high, the crappie,
northern pike and
largemouth bass fishing
peaks as these shoreline
species are dependent
on higher water levels
and shoreline habitat
for reproduction and
survival. Largemouth
and pike are stocked
when water levels are
high to boost their
population. Water levels
are at 72 percent and
will continue to rise.
Camping at Harlan County Reservoir is managed by the
Corps of Engineers. There are several modern camping areas
and places around the perimeter of the reservoir to camp.
A Nebraska Park Entry Permit is not required to camp at
Harlan but camping fees are enforced. Several boat ramps
are available at Gremlin, Methodist and Patterson
Coves.
Water level measurements in this article were recorded at
the end of April 2017 and are ever-changing. The Nebraska
Game and Parks Commission has no management authority
over water levels, but the Commission’s fisheries division
does establish fish stockings for each public water body
across the state. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for an updated
list of stockings and the latest sampling reports.
Be sure to purchase a 2017 Park Permit before you visit
any SRA. Out-of-state boaters will need to purchase a
Nonresident Aquatic Invasive Stamp (AIS) for their boats.
The stamp is available online at the Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission website along with more information
about each reservoir at OutdoorNebraska.org. ■
RED WILLOW SRA – PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
outhwestern Nebraska offers six large reservoirs where
the camping is modern or primitive, the activities are
endless and the fishing is unique.
Medicine Creek or Harry Strunk Reservoir State
Recreation Area has been great for fishing as water
levels are at 100 percent. The reservoir has three public
boat ramp areas and many bays to catch pan-size to trophy
catfish of any species. Blue catfish were stocked in 2015
and are growing. Medicine Creek is known for its naturally
reproducing channel catfish along with stocked walleye and
wipers. Four public cabins are available for rent at Medicine
Creek along with ample camping and amenities.
Red Willow is back after the water levels were drawn
down in 2009 to allow
for dam repairs, which
were completed in late
2013. Water levels are
at 44 percent and still
increasing. Wipers,
white crappie, walleye,
northern pike, white
bass, channel catfish
and largemouth bass
survived the drawdown
and additional fish
were stocked in
2015 – good survival,
productivity and
growth is expected. A
public fishing pier and
two boat ramp areas
are available.
Camping is available at two campgrounds offering 35and 50-amp hookups for modern camping. Tent camping
areas are also available.
Fishing at Enders Reservoir will be comparable to years
since 2014, when water levels were dropped as part of the
Republican River Compact. Water levels are at 20 percent
and will likely fall throughout the summer as water is sent
to Kansas. The lake is stocked with walleye, white bass and
channel catfish at rates that reflect the current water levels.
There is one primitive, gravel launching area at No Name
Bay. Four-wheel drive vehicles are recommended. Larger
boats will struggle to launch from this area. Enders has
upgraded modern camping with several amenities.
Rock Creek SRA is a hidden treasure of the southwest.
Tiger, brown and rainbow trout grown at the adjacent Rock
Creek State Fish Hatchery are stocked at the lake and
provide anglers an excellent opportunity to catch multiple
trout species year-round. Largemouth bass grow big in the
backwaters of Rock Creek, and the lake was stocked with
rock bass and channel catfish in 2016.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 77
▲
This is a photo of a buck my
grandfather, Herman Blankenau, shot in
g
1
1963. The boy in the picture is me. My
grandpa hit this deer on a morning hunt
g
along the Elkhorn River near West Point.
a
After seeing the buck drop, he went to
A
the spot but was surprised to discover the
th
buck had somehow escaped. He returned
b
to his home in Dodge and my father, uncle,
and I accompanied him back to track after
a
a trip to church (it was Sunday after all).
After losing the blood trail, the group was
A
gathered to discuss what to do next in the
g
hopes of a recovery. At that point I saw the
h
buck in some nearby brush, drew my cap
b
pistol and opened fire at about two yards.
p
The buck jumped to his feet and began to
T
run when he was shot a second time – this
ru
titime with mortal results. I was not yet four
yyears old and it was the first deer I had
ever seen. The buck scored 1756⁄8" Boone
e
a
and Crockett and, after 53 years, it remains
th
the largest buck I have ever seen.
Grandfather was a native German
a
and WWI vet (for Germany). He grew up
w
wanting to hunt but due to restrictions
o
on hunting in Germany, never did. When
N
Nebraska opened its first deer seasons, he
w
was very excited and always cherished the
o
opportunity to hunt. Sometimes we take
things like that for granted. Thanks much.
– Don Blankenau, Lincoln
▲
This photo was taken in 1953 near Talmadge, Nebraska, after a
successful hunt. Pictured, left to right, is my father, Paul Grotrian;
my uncle, Donald Grotrian; and my grandfather,
Carl Grotrian.
I still have the kerosene lantern that is in
the photo and many memories of hunting
with my dad up and down the creek
banks of southeastern Nebraska.
– Jim Grotrian, Plattsmouth
▲
This image was from a grouse hunt on the Peggy and Roy
Spencer Ranch near Brewster. It was a nice, fall day in 1978.
Pictured is Jon Welty and, myself, Charlie Sadler. Jon and I
hunted many times over many years, and this was a really good
one.
– Charles Sadler, Lincoln
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, NEBRASKAland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Or e-mail to
Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov. Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have
been taken before 1980. We will give priority to unusual photos or activities. When possible, please include a story about the photograph and identify the
people, places and approximate date it was taken. Text may be edited and photos adjusted for reproduction. All photos will be returned.
78 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 79
Scandinavian-style Paddlefish Cakes
Flavored with fresh shallots, parsley and white pepper.
By Jenny Nguyen
T
he New Scandinavian Cooking
show on PBS is one of the best
cooking shows on television.
On this show, the host typically
cooks outside, and the recipes
feature local, fresh ingredients from
the Scandinavian region, including
those that have been hunted, foraged or
freshly caught.
One episode comes to mind: the
chef, Andreas Viestad, is standing in a
few feet of snow, in front of a log cabin
with wood fire going behind him, and
a deer hangs in the background. He’s
tending to a pot of his hunter’s venison
stew, and you can see his icy breath in
the cold, Nordic air as he’s conjuring
up romantic words to describe the
successful hunter returning from the
woods and the virtues of cooking with
wild game meats. During the episode,
the chef is wearing only a town coat,
scarf and a beaver hat for warmth –
viewers can see why these people are
related to the Vikings.
The “fiskekaker” episode, which I
saw years ago, was equally memorable.
This time, the host is cooking before
a stunning backdrop of an icy, blue
lake, somewhere in Norway or
Finland on a bright, spring or summer
day. He’s grinding fresh pike with
potatoes and adding three different
herb combinations to get three flavors
of fish cakes. All the recipes on this
show seem so simple, but so fresh and
inviting. My mouth watered, and I told
myself I’d make Scandinavian fish
cakes one day.
So there’s another recipe down – in
my head, I keep a bucket list of recipes
that I need to learn before I die. I enjoy
the challenge, but I also like to try
new things. In many ways, the act of
cooking another culture’s recipes brings
me to a more intimate understanding.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
1 pound of paddlefish or other
•
80 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
Scandinavian-style
Scandinavian
style paddlefish cakes served over a bed of dandelion greens tossed
with pear and champagne vinaigrette.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
white fish, boneless and skinless
½ pound of boiled russet potato,
skinless
¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg
½ tablespoon of all-purpose flour
½ cup of cold whole milk
1 egg
1 shallot, minced
2 tablespoon of fresh parsley,
chopped
¼ teaspoon of white pepper
1 teaspoon of kosher salt or to
taste
½ tablespoon of olive oil
½ tablespoon of butter
Lime/lemon wedges
1. Pat fish dry with paper towels
and cut into large chunks. In a food
processor with the S-blade, pulse fish
with potato a few times. Then add
nutmeg and flour, and then pulse until
well combined and you get the texture
of ground meat. Next, add milk and
egg. Pulse until mixture turns into a
paste. Add more milk if mixture is too
dry. (For a smoother fish cake texture,
grind fish and potatoes together in an
electric meat grinder and mix other
ingredients by hand.)
2. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl
and combine with shallot, parsley, salt
and white pepper. Keep fish mixture
cold.
3. In a skillet, heat butter and olive
oil over medium heat. When pan is
hot, scoop out fish paste with a large
spoon and form into a plum-size patty.
Drench hands in water first to reduce
sticking. Cook fish cakes for 5-7
minutes on each side or until golden
brown and cooked through. Serve fish
with lime or lemon wedges and your
favorite salad. ■
This recipe
and photograph
originally appeared
on Jenny’s Food
for Hunters blog at
foodforhunters.com.
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 81
The Past and Present of Windmills
W
hy are windmills so often photographed? Perhaps it is a reminder of the past that still seems to carry such an
important purpose in the present. Or perhaps it’s simply the way that late afternoon light shines from its blades.
Regardless of the reason, I am not alone with my thoughts on this photo subject.
At NEBRASKAland Magazine, we have a cloud-based photo database that houses thousands of images. From
flora to fauna, landscapes to close-ups, our staff does its best to photograph everything it can throughout the state
to encourage you to spend time outdoors.
The other day, while searching my own images, I saw this windmill photograph taken somewhere on the Nebraska/South
Dakota line last summer while tubing on the nearby Niobrara River with friends. This picture was taken on one of my earlymorning drives when everyone else was still sleeping.
I stopped to photograph it for no other reason than it was a windmill. And windmills, for some reason, need to be
photographed, as proven by the 500-plus images of them stored in the NEBRASKAland online photo library.
On this day, I added a few more, including verticals and horizontals for good measure.
Upon further observation, I saw that the place where this particular windmill was manufactured was in San Angelo, Texas.
It was in this small west Texas town that my wife and I first lived right out of college, where I was
trying to cut it as a writer with the hopes of one day having a life-long career combining my two most
important passions – writing and the outdoors.
And once again I realized why people perhaps photograph windmills so much: They remain a
reminder of the past – regardless of what that link might be – that continue to carry an important
purpose in the present.
Jeff Kurrus
April 9, 2017
82 NEBRASKAland • JUNE 2017
JUNE 2017 • NEBRASKAland 83
Position: 853 (10 views)