Volume 95, Issue 9, 2017
November 2017
- Identifier:
- nela.2017_095_09
- Title:
- Volume 95, Issue 9, 2017
- Issue Name:
- November 2017
- Date Issued:
- 2017-11-01
- year:
- 2017
- month:
- November
- Season:
- Autumn
- PDF filename:
- NL_95.09_2017_Nov_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 095
- issue:
- 09
- number:
- 095.09
- 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
November 2017
An oak tree is silhouetted against the evening sky at Weiss farm near Papillion. Photo by
Chris Helzer.
NebraskalandMagazine.com
$4.95
INSIDE
Candlelight Tour at Fort Atkinson
Sneezeweed ● Cooking the Entire Pheasant
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area ● The Ponca Oak
Venison Cottage Pie ● Travel to Imperial ● Hunt Quail Now
NEBRASKAland Magazine
Volume 95
●
No. 9
●
November 2017
F EAT U R ES . . .
24 A Fort by Candlelight
PHOTOS AND STORY BY JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
32 Time Well Spent – What to Do in November
BY RENAE BLUM
34 Pheasants – Prepping the whole bird
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GERRY STEINAUER
40 The Old Wolf Oak Tree
BY MIKE GROENEWOLD
42 Clear Creek WMA
STORY AND PHOTOS BY JULIE GEISER
46 Purple-headed Sneezeweed
STORY AND PHOTOS BY GERRY STEINAUER
24
●
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E ...
Mixed Bag – The Mule Deer, Travel to Imperial,
A Brief History of Red Willow's First Thanksgiving, Quail
Hunt Now, The Animal Game, Rainbows Through the Ice,
Shooting Blinds, A Tool-Holding Antler and more ............ 8
Page 49 – A Dry Idea ................................................... 50
Nature Notes – Flying Ants ....................................... 52
Outdoor Ed – Hunter Mentor Recruitment ....... .........54
Wilderness Workshop – Wildlife Crafts ....... .........56
Portraits from the Past – Reader's Photos ............. 58
In the Kitchen – Venison Cottage Pie........................ 60
The Last Stop – The Three-Legged Deer .................. 62
46
●
42
●
Cover: Ashley Bales of Lincoln hunts at Yankee Hill Wildlife
Management Area in Lancaster County. Photo by Jeff Kurrus.
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.
NEBRASKAland (VOL. 95 / NO. 9 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 • NOVEMBER 2017
32
●
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 3
Ha Calling Doves
Hand
Dear Mr. Spilger,
I read your article about
d
dove
calls in the August/
S
September
2017 issue
of NEBRASKAland
Magazine and it made
me think about how,
as a kid, I would cup
hand around my mouth and
my hands
imitate the doves on our farm. At least
in my mind, the doves would reply to
my imitations over and over. Maybe I
was just doing it between their normal
spacing of calls, but it made me happy.
Many years later, I went dove
hunting with some friends and we
got to the hunting area too early in
the afternoon, so the doves were not
moving around. I found a scraggly
old tree with a large root exposed, so
I sat down on the root, in the shade,
with my shotgun across my knees and
waited. It was hot and I was sweating
and bored, so, after a while, I decided
to do my dove imitation and to my
surprise a dove got up from a nearby
tree and flew directly toward me. So
I shot it. Shortly after that one of the
other hunters came walking by to get
water for his dog. He said, “I heard you
shoot. Did you see a dove?” So I said,
“You won’t believe this” and told him
what I had done.
He wanted to hear my imitation, so
I did it again and another dove got up
from the same tree and flew right to
where I was, and I dropped it, too.
I have tried my imitation call
countless times since with no luck, but
somewhere out there is a young man
who thinks I can call doves in with my
“mouth call.”
Good memories.
Monty Splitter
Kearney, Nebraska
This photograph
was taken by Bruce
Thiel near Lakeside,
Nebraska.
Ed Winans took this image in Paxton.
Minutes later, both animals were gone.
Cloud Formations
My dad, Larry Rivers
Sr., is a longtime reader of
NEBRASKAland Magazine. He
served as a meteorologist in the
Army back in the 1960s, and
is always eager to point out
various cloud formations to me.
He snapped the attached photo
below of mammatus clouds just
outside his southeast Lincoln
home this evening, right after
the worst of the storm had
passed over, and thought it
might make a good submission
for the "From Our Readers"
section of your magazine.
Brady Ann Rivers
Lincoln, Nebraska
Bruce Thiel from Lincoln submitted this photo of a Sandhills hay meadow on a foggy morning.
4 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 5
NEBRASKAland Magazine
ADMINISTRATION
CONSERVATION OFFICERS
Director Jim Douglas
Deputy Director Tim McCoy
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
Doug Oppliger of Denver, Colorado,
photographed this woodchuck along the
Platte River near Columbus.
Chelsey Fuhrman shot this image of a hot air balloon at the Balloon and Wine Festival near Omaha.
6 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
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.
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August-September Issue
I would like to thank you for Volume
95 No. 7 (August-September 2017) of the
NEBRASKAland Magazine. It is the best I have
read since I have been receiving this magazine.
I was born in Nebraska and enlisted in the
Navy during WWII. I married in Pennsylvania
and have lived there since. NEBRASKAland is
my reminder always of my life in Nebraska.
Thank you again for such a wonderful
magazine.
Harry Channer
Schwenksville, Pennsylvania
The Visitor and Reader's Photos
Look forward every month to finding the
monthly visitor. It is the very first thing that I
do when my new issue arrives. And then I read
the articles. Also, enjoy the pictures that readers
send in.
Thanks for a great magazine!
Stephanie McClure
Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Newspapers
Loved your idea to use newspapers
to remove smells from a cooler ("Don't
Just Read the Paper" May 2017 issue,
page 18).
We use them to add a weed barrier
under straw for garden mulching. It
eventually composts along with the
straw.
Thanks,
Karen Anderson
Via email
Communications Director Christy Firestone
Editor Jeff Kurrus
Art Director Tim Reigert
Associate Editor Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
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
Enter Our Photo Contest
Don't forget to enter our
NEBRASKAland Photo Contest
- see ad on page 8.
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.
Photographer Suzie Wahlgren sent this Milky Way image taken at Jeffrey
Lake south of Brady.
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.
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
Kyler Prochaska
(E 1/2 Dawes, N 1/2 Sheridan, W 1/2 Cherry) 308-430-3984
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)
402-340-3981
Jonathan Andreasen (Holt, Boyd)
Greg Hesse
(Greeley, Wheeler, Boone, S 1/2 Antelope)
402-843-6567
Mitch Johnson (Knox, Antelope, Pierce) 402-613-8612
402-762-5022
Jeff Jones (Knox, Cedar)
Jon Reeves
(S 1/2 Thurston, Burt, Washington)
402-889-8508
Andrew Heyer (Pierce, Madison, Stanton) 402-613-2241
Cory Krause
(Cuming, Wayne, Stanton, Dodge)
402-380-6410
Steve Oberg
(Colfax, Platte, Madison, Stanton, Nance)
402-910-3366
Owen Johnson
(Dixon, Dakota, N 1/2 Thurston)
402-266-1759
308-730-7050
Doug Pollard (Loup, Garfield, Valley)
SOUTHWEST (Includes counties covered)
Roger Thompson (District Supt.)
308-530-3097
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
John Lee (Hitchcock, Dundy, Chase, Hayes) 308-414-1432
308-289-0427
Nicholas Fix (Keith, Perkins)
308-289-1169
Bryce Streger (Keith, Arthur)
308-760-0145
Sean Schultz(Keith)
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
Taylor Dixon
(Dawson, N 1/2 Gosper, N 1/2 Phelps)
308-217-2108
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
Matt Taylor (Thayer, Fillmore, Jefferson) 402-200-9597
402-806-9084
Dan Zuehlke (Gage, Saline)
402-890-6463
Dina Barta (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)
Nebraska Wildlife Crimestoppers
1-800-742-7627
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 7
A Mammal
Brief
By Lindsay Rogers
PHOTO BY JUSTIN HAAG
Characterized by large ears and a
relatively small tail, the mule deer can also
be distinguished from the white-tailed
deer by the growth pattern of its antlers.
A mule deer’s antlers form dichotomous
branches (tines split in two) where the
white-tailed deer’s antlers form one main
beam with tines branching off the main
Lindsay Rogers is an
beam. Historically, mule deer were found
outdoor education
statewide, while white-tailed deer were
specialist with the
Nebraska Game and
found in the eastern part of the state. Today,
Parks Commission.
white-tailed deer have expanded their range
to cover the entire state because of their
ability to adapt to habitat changes, while
mule deer, which are less adaptable, are now
restricted primarily to the western two-thirds of the
state.
As a ruminant species, the mule deer has limited ability to digest highly fibrous plant
material. Because of this, its metabolic rate varies with the seasons – high metabolism in the summer months
when easily digestible plants are available and lower metabolism in the winter months when only highly fibrous
plant material is available. They can also feed on acorns, berries and other fleshy fruit to a lesser extent. ■
NEBRASKAland
P H O T O
C O N T E S T
FOR COMPLETE CONTEST RULES AND ENTRY, GO TO...
Magazine.outdoornebraska.gov/photocontest/
8 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 9
Travelogue
Travelogue Sponsor
Visit Imperial and Chase County
Imperial
●
By Brenna McFadden, Nebraska Tourism Commission
O
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
nce referred to as the Great
American Desert, Chase
County is a broad expanse of
land home to beautiful golf
courses, state parks and prairie
lakes just waiting to be explored.
Chase County offers 17,000 acres of
public land where hunters in search
of pheasant, quail, dove, turkey and
deer have access. If your interest is
in spending some tranquil time on
the water, stop by Enders Reservoir
State Recreation Area just southeast of
Imperial. Enders Reservoir is a 1,700acre lake used for boating, fishing and
camping and is teeming with wildlife
in the fall and winter months.
While you are in the area be sure
to visit the Champion Mill State
Historical Park and Recreation Area.
This old mill pond provides the perfect
place for families to spend time playing
with their little ones and teaching them
how to fish or camp. You can also
stop by the restored 1892 flour mill
– the only remaining operating waterpowered mill in Nebraska today. Its
hours are from 1-5 p.m. daily.
For an indoor history experience
head to the Chase County Historical
Museum in Champion. It houses more
than 1,800 artifacts from the 1700s
and on. Exhibits include antique
clothing, housewares and World War I
memorabilia such as uniforms and farm
machinery.
Champion Mill Historical Park provides the perfect place for families to visit.
Once you fall in love with the
scenery and hometown atmosphere,
you will probably want to stay a
night or two. Check into the Balcony
House Bed and Breakfast in Imperial
and enjoy a cozy night tucked into
a historic and unique building that
offers old-fashioned hospitality. If you
are interested in golf then stop by the
Imperial Country Club. It stretches
across level terrain where most of the
holes are straightaways and the fairways
are all elegantly lined with trees.
If golf is not for you, Imperial has
plenty of other places to visit! 509
Broadway is an upscale clothing
boutique and coffee shop that lets
you order a gourmet latte to keep you
going while browsing their selection of
clothes.
Before you retire to your comfortable
bed and breakfast, explore the
downtown area of Imperial, rich with
a number of shopping and dining
attractions. After grabbing a bite to eat
you can relax while viewing a movie at
the historic Imperial Theatre on Fridays
and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. or Sundays
at 7 p.m.
Whether you want to venture
outdoors to take in the true beauty of
the Nebraska plains, or spend time in a
welcoming and historic town, Imperial
and Chase County have all that and
more to offer. ■
While in the Area
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
Other places to visit while in Chase
County include:
Imperial Lanes
Good Times Bar
Enders Lake Golf Course
Old Rock Corral
Two kayakers fish at Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area in Chase County.
10 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 11
A Brief History
Red Willow County’s
First Thanksgiving
By the Nebraska State Historical Society
T
hanksgiving in 1896 was celebrated on Nov. 26, and
editor F. M. Kimmell of the McCook Tribune took
advantage of the holiday to reflect on Red Willow
County’s recent past. “I wonder if any one has thought
of this month being the twenty-fifth anniversary of the first
settling of the county,” he wrote in the Tribune on Nov. 27,
1896.
“The first Thanksgiving dinner was eaten in camp near
the mouth of Red Willow creek, and in some respects was
the most unique Thanksgiving dinner ever eaten. The eleven
men who represented ‘The Republican Valley Land and
Townsite company,’ had reached their destination [starting
from Nebraska City] the latter part of November, 1871, and
An unidentified family in front of their dugout, presumably near
McCook, Red Willow County, about 1890. NSHS RG3464-45
The townsite company men could only dream of a Thanksgiving such as this one celebrated in Wausa, Nebraska. NSHS RG2797-35
12 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
after locating the Red Willow townsite and their respective
claims, announced their readiness to return.”
Townsite companies were common in Nebraska during
the territorial period and the early years of statehood. Towns
were often founded by groups of speculators who located
sites, claimed land, and tried to convince prospective settlers
to buy town lots. Such would-be cities were known as “paper
towns.” Some grew into actual towns, and some didn’t. The
now-unincorporated town of Red Willow (between presentday McCook and Indianola) became the county’s first town
in 1872.
Kimmell continues his story:
“Two of the company kept in camp by allotted duties,
had no opportunity of attending to individual interests, and
looked upon the proceedings as being extremely selfish and
unjust, and so pronounced it in vigorous language. The usual
way of eating was in regular camp style, each as he pleased,
but in deference to the day, this dinner must be somewhat
ceremonious. The tin plates were arranged as on a table and
all sat around, except the two, who were not yet in a thankful
frame of mind, and while a blessing was asked, one of them,
in an aside, muttered quite sulphurous words.
“After while, matters were so adjusted that the two shared
in advantages taken by the others, and the lurid atmosphere
cleared. Buffalo meat, wild turkey and prairie chicken were
eaten with the regulation camp fare, among which was the
inevitable flapjacks and syrup. It was too cold for the syrup
to run, so it was cut off in chunks and lengths as it pressed
through the bung hole of the keg. On occasion, one would
become impatient for his sweet morsel, and reach over
another to secure the piece for which the first was waiting,
when exhibition of temper and ready use of strong words
followed.”
May your Thanksgiving pass with warmer
lodging and fewer “sulphurous words"! ■
Visit the Nebraska State Historical Society’s
website at nebraskahistory.org.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 13
14 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 15
The Animal Game
Quail Hunt Now
The online version of the Public Access Atlas is an invaluable
tool used by hunters to locate quail habitat on public lands.
By adjusting the layer transparency at the top left, hunters can
locate woody cover adjacent to cropland, grasslands and other
types of cover – great places to start looking for bobwhites.
Visit OutdoorNebraska.org/publicaccessatlas and click on “View
Interactive Map.”
Type of Habitat
Different from ring-necked pheasants, the native bobwhite
quail is an edge species and can often be found where two
or more habitat types come together. As groups of pheasant
hunters comb through large swaths of grass and cropfields,
quail hunters target the woody draws and other areas where
grasslands converge with other cover types. Bobwhites
are commonly found in tree lines, ditches and pockets that
feature native shrub thickets including American plum and
chokecherry and downed trees that provide ideal loafing and
escape cover for bobwhites. Locate these areas adjacent to
high-energy food sources, such as corn or milo, and you’ll
find yourself in ideal locations for bobwhite quail.
To research quail habitat, many hunters use the online
version of the Public Access Atlas for pre-season scouting.
This interactive, GIS-based tool is free and can be very
useful in narrowing down where quail habitat occurs on
public lands (see graphic above). To view the online version,
visit OutdoorNebraska.org/publicaccessatlas and click on
“View Interactive Map.”
By Jeff Kurrus
Dinnertime at my
house alongside two
elementary school
kids is consumed
by what has become
known as The
Animal Game. It’s
quite simple to play.
Start with any letter
of the alphabet and
then each person has
to name an animal
that starts with
that letter. If the
animal is repeated
or a participant
can’t come up with
an animal, then they are eliminated from that round. The
winner of each round decides the next letter that will be
used.
For an even more challenging game, create the rules that
competitors can only state Nebraska animals. Before long,
if your kids are like mine, they’ll be bringing home library
books, secretly hiding them in their rooms, and using them
for reference before they come to the dining room table. ■
ILLUSTRATION BY TIM REIGERT
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
COURTESY OF JOHN LAUX
By Jeff Kurrus
While pheasants remain the No. 1 priority for many
upland hunters every fall, there is a large contingent of
hunters realizing they need to take advantage of the state’s
best bobwhite quail hunting in years. During the 2016-17
hunting season, harvest was nearly 45 percent higher than
the 10-year average. And bobwhites have continued to thrive
according to recent surveys – population indices from spring
whistle counts and the July rural mail carrier surveys were
23 percent and 81 percent above the recent 5-year averages,
respectively. Although these surveys don’t directly measure
production, much of the quail range experienced favorable
conditions throughout the summer and into fall.
Recent reports from the field have also been very positive.
“With harvest nearly in full-swing, farmers are seeing great
numbers of bobwhites,” said Commission Upland Habitat
and Access Program Manager John Laux. “This year,
there have been many reports of broods of different sizes
(and ages) – many of the younger broods are likely from
re-nesting attempts but some females may have produced
multiple clutches.” Either way, hunters will find some
excellent quail numbers in Nebraska again this fall.
How to Hunt
English pointer dog Jake retrieves a bobwhite quail on private
land in Cass County near Louisville.
Where to Hunt
The primary quail range includes southeastern Nebraska
and west across the southern border with Kansas. That
said, bobwhites were harvested in 86 of Nebraska’s 93
counties last year – indicating that populations have recently
expanded into many areas outside their primary range.
While the majority of quail hunting will occur on private
lands, ample public hunting opportunities are available on
wildlife management areas as well as private lands enrolled
in the state’s Open Fields and Waters (OFW) Program.
Of the 253,000 acres of land enrolled in OFW, 75 percent
occurs within the quail range.
16 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
Quail hunting is not a game of sunrise chase. When
working with a pointing or flushing dog, hunters will often
allow quail ample time in the morning to come out of their
roost, where they overnight, and move about their habitat
spreading scent as they travel. Successful hunters will then
allow their dog to work an area with suitable habitat, paying
specific attention when their dog begins to get “birdy.”
Once a dog goes on point – for quail on average will hold,
or remain still, considerably longer than pheasants – hunters
are safely arranged and either the dog or a hunter is directed
into the heavy cover. Then, all heck breaks loose as birds fly
in all directions in a blur. Hunters will then send their dogs
in the direction of “singles” once again as they watch their
canine partners in excitement.
For more information on Nebraska’s upland bird hunting
opportunities, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/upland. ■
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 17
Rainbows
Through the Ice
18 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
By Jeff Kurrus
Throughout September and October,
more than 80,000 put-and-take rainbow
trout were stocked in public fishing areas
across the state. The fish are approximately
10 inches in length and can be caught using
a variety of tactics in open water, including
spinners, salmon eggs on a hook and a
bobber and artificial flies.
However, catching these trout through the
ice may be even more fun than open water.
With just a jig and a waxworm, anglers can
find these fish near cover along with other
species. But once hooked, they give the
panfish angler a considerably different fight,
as this hard-charging fish nearly refuses to
be brought to the surface of the ice.
It’s an added bonus for those anglers who
are bluegill and crappie fishing on the hard
water throughout the winter months.
For a complete list of trout stocking
locations, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/
fishstockingreports/. ■
Shooting Blinds
By Evan Barrientos
W
hen I worked for The Nature Conservancy near
Wood River, Nebraska, I lived close to a restored
wetland. In late winter I would gaze longingly out
my window at the clouds of migrating waterfowl whirling
above the calm water. I wanted to photograph this spectacle,
but approaching the skittish birds through the open prairie
seemed an impossible task. Then I met Michael Forsberg,
famed Nebraska wildlife photographer.
I learned how Forsberg builds blinds out of garden fence
and grass and sleeps in them, sometimes for days, in order to
capture the most intimate moments of nature and share them
with the rest of us. I wanted to learn this art, too, so I headed
to the hardware store to buy materials for my first blind and
proceeded to make a very big mistake.
The store was out of garden fence so I bought chicken
wire instead, thinking it couldn’t be too different. It could.
I spent most of the next afternoon pounding stakes; cutting
wire, camo cloth, and grass; and zip tying it all together
Gadwall drakes feed in classic dabbler duck form.
20 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
decomposing tree trunk, but they didn’t seem to notice me at
all. I knew I was okay when a red-winged blackbird strolled
across the top of my head.
What I sacrificed in comfort I made up for in views. It’s
not often you get to see wild animals behave truly naturally,
completely unaware of your presence. Seeing a killdeer
bathe in the golden light of sunrise, hearing blue-winged
teal drakes whisper soft calls to a female, watching beads of
water drip from a gadwall’s impermeable feathers – these
were new and beautiful experiences for me. At one point, a
great blue heron, normally too skittish to approach within 50
feet, spent 10 minutes hunting just a few feet away from me.
I left the blind with some nice photographs and a very sore
neck.
Pathetic as it was, I’m grateful to that blind for giving me
glimpses into the lives of birds that I never would have had
otherwise. It taught me a new way to appreciate wildlife, one
that requires you to become a part of the landscape. Hunters
and photographers know the value of extreme patience, but
in today’s fast-paced society, rarely do we sit in a spot for
hours and watch nature’s secrets reveal themselves. A blind,
I learned, teaches you that patience and provides a window
to a new view of nature. I hope to build many more blinds in
the future, but never, ever again out of chicken wire. ■
PHOTOS BY EVAN BARRIENTOS
in the rough shape of a burrito with a hole at one end and
a window at the other. The blind was placed right on the
water’s edge and would have a spectacular view of ducks
waking up in the golden light of sunrise. Or so I thought.
After leaving the blind out for two weeks to let the birds
acclimate to it, I set out one March night with my camera
gear and sleeping bag, crawled into the blind, and fell asleep
to the quiet murmurs of roosting mallards. I was so eager for
sunrise that I had no less than five dreams of waking up in
the blind. In one dream I woke up underwater. In another I
woke up to find the wetland dry. When I finally did wake up,
I discovered a snafu that I hadn’t even dreamt of: my blind
had collapsed on me. The chicken wire couldn’t support the
added weight of the morning dew, and in order for me to see
out the blind’s window I had to prop the darn thing up with
my head. In addition to being extremely uncomfortable, I
worried that the floppy blind would scare away the birds.
Fortunately, it did not. Maybe the birds thought it was
too pathetic to be man-made, or maybe it looked like a
A killdeer ruffles its feathers while preening at sunrise.
A greater yellowlegs scans the water for invertebrates.
Candlelight Tour at Fort Atkinson State
Historical Park in Washington County.
A Tool-Holding
Antler
by Jerry Kane
By Ryan Sparks
One day while attending graduate
school in Montana, I wandered into the
Slide Inn on the banks of the Madison
River. The fly shop’s owner, Kelly
Galloup, had a reputation as a troutcrazed wild child, and his fly-tying
abilities and patterns are known all
over the world. The shop displayed
an eclectic collection of fishing
memorabilia – antique bamboo rods,
replicas of enormous brown trout, and
photos of legendary anglers from days
gone by. There was a ton of interesting
objects to look at, but my eye jumped to
Galloup’s fly-tying desk. Perched atop
it was a large elk antler, sporting every
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.
November 1
Late Doe/Fawn Antelope
season opens
November 1
Raccoon, Opossum, Long-tailed
Weasel, Mink, Red Fox, Gray Fox and
Badger
hunting and trapping seasons open
November 6
Tickets go on sale for Historical
Christmas Dinner
Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford
November 9
Rail Hunting
season closes
November 19
Citizen Science in the Classroom
Educator Workshop
Hastings Museum, Hastings
November 19
Fort Robinson Longhorn and Buffalo
Sale
November 1
Muskrat and Beaver Trapping
November 11-12
River Valley Artisans and Craft
Market
season opens
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Ashland
Crawford
November 3
Wildlife and Watercolors
November 11-19
Deer Hunting
November 28
Bighorn Sheep Hunting
Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area,
Gering
November 4
Candlelight Tour
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park,
Fort Calhoun
November 6
Woodcock Hunting
season closes
firearm deer and restricted statewide
buck seasons
November 15
Crow Hunting
First segment of crow hunting
season closes
season opens
November 28
Learn to Hunt Muzzleloader Deer
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
November 18-19, 24-26
Christmas at the Mansion
JP Wachter of Lincoln
firearm hunts at Oak Glen
Wildlife Management Area
in Seward County.
Fall fishing with spoons, slabs and
lures for northern pike at Merritt
Reservoir in Cherry County.
22 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
Arbor Lodge State Historical Park,
Nebraska City
manner of fly-tying tools imaginable.
I snapped a quick photo and was
determined to make my own.
That spring I found a whitetail shed
that happened to sit flush on a table.
Using 1/8th- and 3/16th-inch bits, I
drilled several evenly spaced holes in
the main beam of the antler. While my
antler doesn’t hold as many tools as
Galloup’s, it keeps every tool I use on
a consistent basis organized, so I’m
not fumbling around looking for my
scissors or hackle pliers.
I have seen other antler tool holders
dyed with wood stain, but I prefer the
natural color of the antler as I found it.
If you can’t find one that sits perfectly
level, feel free to grind down the points
or the base to make it stable. The result
is a beautiful and efficient addition to
your tying desk. ■
NEBRASKAland
Visitor
Last issue’s winner of
the Visitor drawing was
Gail Griess of Sutton, Nebraska, who
found the brown recluse spider on
page 54.
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 14, 17, 23, or 52.
The brown recluse spider
(Loxosceles reclusa) is a mediumsized brown spider native to
southeastern Nebraska. The state is
at the northern edge of this spider’s
range, which extends south to Texas
and east to Kentucky. Identifying
characteristics include a distinct
dark brown, “fiddle”-shaped patch
right behind the eyes, and six eyes
arranged in three pairs, instead of
the more common eight eyes.
The brown recluse is a nocturnal
predator, spending the day tucked
into dark crevices and venturing
out at night in search of insects.
They are not aggressive, preferring
to escape when threatened. While
brown recluse spider bites are
uncommon, they are serious. The
spider injects cytotoxic venom,
which kills surrounding tissue. Seek
treatment for any suspect bite, and
attempt to collect
the spider so it can
be properly
identified to
assist with
treatment.
Special thanks to Julie Van Meter,
State Entomologist, Nebraska
Department of Agriculture.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 23
A Fort by Candlelight
Photos and story by Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
By the gate, a stranger approached.
“State your purpose,” the sentry prompted.
A raised lantern revealed a messenger who had a
letter, and he must see the fort’s commander – it’s
urgent.
Leery, the sentry allowed access, but warned the
soldier to take care. Rarely does Fort Atkinson receive
visitors this time of night. There may be trouble in the
air.
The messenger slipped past, but the guards can’t see
that there are others with him: visitors from a different
century, wearing clothes from a future time. Invisible
and perceived as mere shadows they go undetected,
and without question, they traveled quietly in a single
line.
So by candlelight these visitors followed the
messenger, as he guided them through this history:
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park from 1819-1827, it
guarded our country’s manifest destiny.
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24 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 25
Through the gate a dark lawn opened, under a
twinkling, inky sky. And under a full moon a retired
flagpole stood until reveille; it cared not who passed it
by.
Our ghostly visitors from the future could not speak
with the living, but were permitted to ask questions
through their guide. Mostly domestic murmurs filled
the barracks, but there was also intrigue on the rise.
From room to room, as they watched and listened, a
plot unfolded before their eyes. Wives and widows
gossiped over weaving, as their soldiers puffed on
pipes by brick firesides.
Above: A slow shutter speed shows a ghostly light
trail left by a lantern and visitors as they visit the
barracks during the Candlelight Tour. The tour is
always scheduled on the first Saturday of November.
Opposite: Julie Baker reads by candlelight.
Left: Donna Jones, Jacqueline Ericson and Marilyn
Jones, left to right, spinning and weaving in one of
the barracks. At its height, Fort Atkinson housed
nearly a quarter of the standing U.S. Army –
approximately 1,200 soldiers. Civilians who lived just
beyond the wall of the garrison equaled nearly as
many, which included the soldiers’ wives and widows
who did the washing, cooking, gardening, weaving
and spinning.
Most of the day-to-day work at Fort Atkinson was
agricultural. Because the fort was hundreds of
miles away from civilization and outside supplies
were limited and uncertain, the fort had to be selfsufficient. In addition to soldiers and their families,
an Indian agent, blacksmiths, carpenters, coopers,
tinsmiths, musicians, surgeons and teachers also
lived at the fort.
26 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 27
For 16 years the fort has welcomed candlelight tour visitors, and this
November will be the 17th. Based on actual fort events, the popular
tour sells out every season.
One year the talk buzzed of the presidential election: Adams’ 1824
victory was an embroiling one, indeed. Some years centered on a
mystery – a petty theft or crime or misadventure – who would take
such little heed? There were also nights before a funeral, to embalm
soldiers who sadly died in surgery. Next come inside the dusty wood
shop, where those eerie coffins may still be seen.
28 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
In 1820 one man awaited execution, locked up
on that restless eve. While a few doors down the
women toiled, the officers and their dinner guests
will be most pleased.
But outside the westerly wind howled, it sent
plumes of chimney smoke straight into the
punishment room. Being hanged or smoked like
salted fish to death, the poor prisoner didn’t know
which would come more soon.
Above: Secured at the
center of the fort is the
powder magazine, a
limestone building used to
store gunpowder.
Opposite: After dinner,
soldiers settle down for
a game of chess: Josiah
Miller, John Miller and
Kevin Arnold sit on the
left side of the table;
Mike Bowman and Jim
Habegger sit on the right.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 29
Then there was that year trapper Hugh Glass
came running, with grizzly wounds across his
hide. And never was there a shortage of scurvy, and
Indian peace treaties, you’d find.
The next story will be told on Nov. 4, and rumor
speaks of a keel boat carrying fort supplies. It may
be the last shipment before old man winter comes,
and for many months, he will long reside. ■
For more information on Fort Atkinson’s Candlelight
Tour, visit fortatkinsononline.org. Tickets are limited and
reservation is required. A valid vehicle entry permit is
required and available at the visitor center. Complimentary
refreshments will be served at the conclusion of each tour. All
proceeds will help support the living history program at Fort
Atkinson State Historical Park.
30 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
Above: Blacksmiths Doug Appel and Lauren Joyce take
advantage of the cool night. These men, including farriers
and armorers, were responsible for nearly everything made of
steel and iron. The fort employed nearly 25 smiths at its height
and produced items such as nails, horseshoes, wagon wheel
bandings, door latches, hinges and farming equipment. They also
repaired weaponry. Today, Fort Atkinson reenactors have learned
this craft to carry on the tradition. Reproduction pieces may be
purchased at the Sutler Store.
Opposite: The Sutler Store offered hundreds of items for sale
to the soldiers and civilians who lived on the fort. It functions
today as a gift shop where visitors may find items made by
Fort Atkinson artisans, including lanterns, animal hides, period
cookbooks, old-fashion candies and jerky, home decor, pottery
and candles.
Left: Tourgoers may pick up a copy of The Military Journal in the
visitor center to read day’s news on the fort and commemorate
their time on the Candlelight Tour.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 31
Time Well Spent
What to Do in November
By Renae Blum
A
s temperatures cool and winter approaches, make the most of the fall season by
getting outdoors and enjoying nature. The below activities are a great place to
start. To learn more about fun events at state parks and recreation areas in November,
visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. ■
PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
Bird
Hunting
Throughout the
month
Statewide
The hunt is on! During
November, you have an array
of choices when it comes to
hunting birds in Nebraska,
including pheasant, quail,
turkey, waterfowl and
grouse. Visit our website
at OutdoorNebraska.org to
pick up a permit, find places
to hunt and access various
hunting guides.
Christmas at the Mansion
Nov. 18, 19, 24, 25, 26
Arbor Lodge State Historical Park
Step back in time to enjoy a historical Christmas at Arbor Lodge State Historical
Park. Visit the park’s 52-room mansion, home of Arbor Day founder J. Sterling
Morton, to see it dressed up in its Christmas best, including vintage décor and
holiday-themed collections.
Sesquicentennial
Events
Throughout the month
Statewide
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
In late November, take a lamplight tour
of the post commander’s home at the
Fort Sidney Complex, decorated as it
would have been 150 years ago. The day
after Thanksgiving, attend
Omaha’s Christmas at Union
Station event to see a tree
lighting ceremony featuring
the region’s largest indoor
Christmas tree. To learn
more about these and other
events, visit ne150.org/
calendar.
Outdoor Cooking
Throughout the month
Statewide
32 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN
Cooking outdoors isn’t just for summer grilling. Outdoor Education Specialist Julia
Plugge recommends outdoor cooking in the fall for a number of reasons: you’ll
welcome the heat, rather than tolerating the sweat it brings in warmer temperatures;
there’s no need for bug spray; and many fall favorites, such as soup, are perfect for
outdoor cooking. “This Thanksgiving, free up your oven and make a pumpkin dessert
in the Dutch oven,” Plugge writes.
Holiday Shopping for the Outdoor Guru
Throughout the month
Statewide
Know someone who loves the outdoors? Make your holiday shopping simple and take a look at
the Nebraska Game and Parks Gift Guide at OutdoorNebraska.org/giftguide. In it, you can find
options to fit a variety of interests: lifetime permits and stamps, hunting and fishing permits, Game
and Parks “Bucks” (which work like a gift certificate), a wild game cookbook and more.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 33
PHEASANTS
Prepping the whole bird
Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
When properly cleaned, butchered and prepared, all parts of a
pheasant – including the wings, legs and even the heart, liver and
gizzard – can be made into delectable meals.
W
hen I was young, the downside of pheasant
hunting with Dad was that after the hunt my
brothers and I would always end up in the
basement cleaning birds while he was upstairs
catching up on football scores. We cleaned
the entire bird, and when Mom fried them
it was the whole pheasant: breast, legs, wings, back, ribs,
heart, liver and gizzard. At the supper table, with six kids in
the family, we spared not a piece.
These days, after a successful pheasant hunt, some hunters
simply tear away a bird’s breast feathers and fillet out the
breast meat and toss the remaining carcass. Their woeful
justifications for wasting the remaining meat go something
like this: “pheasant legs are full of tendons and tough as
rawhide, you can’t eat them,” “there’s no meat on a pheasant
wing, why clean them?” and “eat the heart, liver and
gizzard? That’s gross!”
The practice of only filleting out the white-meat breasts
stems from hunters not knowing how or not taking the time
to properly clean, butcher and prepare an entire pheasant.
If they invested a little more time, learned a few tips and
expanded their cooking repertoire, they and their families
could enjoy delightful meals made from the whole bird.
Aging, Cleaning and
Butchering Pheasants
There is no doubt that pheasant meat, especially that
of an old rooster, can be tough. To enhance a pheasant’s
tenderness and flavor, I often age harvested birds prior to
cleaning them. I know many hunters and non-hunters alike
are repulsed at the thought of hanging an uncleaned bird in
their garage for a few days – they fear bacteria is tenderizing
the meat. It is not. All good beef is aged and many hunters
hang their deer for several days before butchering; why not
pheasants? In England, aging pheasants has been a tradition
for centuries.
Aging of meat occurs when natural enzymes in the muscle
cells, given time, break down collagen, a hard, fibrous
34 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
protein. Preferred temperatures for aging meat range from a
few degrees above freezing to about 50 degrees F. Bacterial
growth is limited below 60 degrees.
I age my pheasants, feathers on and un-gutted, four to
eight days – if it makes you feel less queasy, gut the birds
before hanging. In November, I often hang them in the
garage. Later in the season, if it is cold enough outside to
freeze the birds, I set them on a cold basement windowsill
or in the refrigerator. Aging makes even the tough legs
and thighs of an old, long-spurred rooster tender and more
flavorful. For more details see “Aging Game Birds Results
in a Delectable Treat” at Nebraskalandmagazine.com.
As for cleaning pheasants, I have seen hunters slash, tear
and pull on birds for minutes without making much progress.
Knowing when, where and how to slash, tear and pull helps,
especially when saving the entire bird.
I start with a little trick unknown to many hunters –
pulling the tendons from the drumsticks. Having to eat
around the sinewy tendons is why many hunters do not eat
pheasant drumsticks.
One fall morning about 20 years ago, Dick Turpin,
long-time conservation officer, was being videoed by the
crew from the Outdoor Nebraska television show in the
Commission’s Lincoln office parking lot for a segment
on how to pull tendons. Passing by on my way to work, I
stopped to watch. Turpin had snapped the pheasant’s lower
leg bone and was trying to extract the tendons using pliers
and was struggling mightily. To save him from further
filmed embarrassment, I stepped in, put the pheasant’s foot
under my shoe and quickly pulled the tendons. He smirked
and called me a “young whippersnapper.”
To pull the leg tendons (see photos on page 36), first
pop the joint between the bones where the feathered
drumstick meets the scaled lower leg by grasping the lower
leg and pushing it sideways against the joint. Next, lay
the pheasant’s foot on a concrete or gravel surface with
the lower leg angled upwards at about 45 degrees. While
grasping the drumstick step on the lower leg near the spur
with the ball of your foot. The bone should snap. Now, with
the ball of your foot firmly placed on the pheasant’s foot,
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 35
To pull pheasant leg tendons, first snap the lower leg bone
by placing the ball of your foot near the pheasant’s spur and
applying pressure.
Making an incision between the bone and the base of the long
flight feathers on a pheasant’s mid-wing aids in their removal.
Next with your foot placed firmly on the pheasant’s foot, grasp
the drumstick and pull upwards.
This method removes all but a few of the leg tendons.
36 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
grasp the drumstick and steadily pull upwards. The tendons
should slide out of the drumstick, remaining attached to the
pheasant’s foot. A rigid boot sole and somewhat roughened
concrete to provide friction helps prevent the pheasant’s
foot from sliding out from under your foot. Lastly, cut
through the skin at the previously broken joint to remove the
remaining stub of the lower leg. If transporting or storing
birds, leave one stub with the spur attached to identify the
bird as male.
To skin the bird, first make a cut through the skin where
the base of the neck meets the crop. Grasping the bird by
the head and starting at the cut, pull the feathers from the
pheasant’s breast, back and legs. Then pull out the crop
and cut the tail off at its fleshy base. To clean the wings,
first snap the upper wing joint and then cut through it,
removing the upper segment. Next, pull the feathers from
the lower wing and the foreside of the mid-wing. Lastly,
on the backside of the mid-wing, make a short incision
between the bone and the base of the long flight feathers.
This will aid in pulling off the strip of flight feathers (see
above photo).
With the bird de-feathered, now comes the dirty work:
gutting the bird. First, make a shallow horizontal cut through
the gut lining where it is exposed at the base of the breast
bone. Cutting too deep here can puncture the intestines.
Then pull back the breast bone to expose the guts. If saving
the heart and liver, now remove them. Pull the gallbladder,
the clear, greenish-red sac attached to the liver, as it contains
foul-tasting bile. To extract and clean the gizzard, cut the
esophagus and small intestine where they attach to it. Then
from the gizzard’s side, make a cut halfway through the
organ (see top right photo). Pull open the gizzard and shake
out the gravel and ground food from its interior. Next, using
your fingers, pull off the gizzard’s leathery inner lining
(see bottom right photo). Once the organs are pulled, finish
gutting the bird, making sure to scrape out the kidneys
tucked under the backbone and the lungs lodged against the
ribs. Lastly, with a hose or in the sink, thoroughly wash the
bird inside and out – including the organs – removing all
blood and feathers.
A cleaned pheasant can be left whole for baking or slow
cooking or cut into pieces. I butcher pheasants into six
pieces: breast fillets, wings, and legs (drumstick and thigh
intact). I start by holding the bird’s backbone with one
hand, and while grasping the thigh with my other hand, pull
upwards dislodging the thigh bone from the hip socket. To
remove the leg, I cut closely along the back and through the
broken hip joint making sure to get all the meat in the bone
pockets along the back. Next, I cut off the wings at the lower
joint and then fillet off the breasts by running the blade
tightly down along the breast bone and then along the ribs. I
stockpile the pheasant carcass (breast bone, ribs, back
and neck) in the freezer until I have enough to make soup
stock.
Once the gizzard is extracted from the pheasant, make a cut
halfway through it to clean out its contents.
Cooking Pheasant Legs
and Wings
In the kitchen, pheasant hunters, traditionalists by nature,
often resort to standard recipes, such as slow-cooked
pheasant with cream of mushroom soup or pheasant breasts
floured and fried to a golden brown. These recipes are not
bad, but if you stretched your culinary boundaries, perhaps
did a little online research for imaginative recipes, you can
treat your family and friends to delicious meals made from
all parts of the bird.
A pheasant’s white-meated, mild-flavored breasts are a
chef’s delight. Basically, they can be used in any recipe that
calls for chicken breasts. Two of my favorites are pheasant
parmesan and tarragon pheasant in cream sauce. A word
of caution, though: pheasant meat contains less fat than
chicken, and when overcooked, even the breasts can become
dry and a bit tough.
The bony and tougher legs (all dark meat) and wings of a
pheasant provide more of a culinary challenge, as they must
be tenderized during cooking. Therefore, I often use them in
separate dishes from the breasts.
One way to utilize the legs and wings is to bake an entire
pheasant. To add moisture to the meat prior to baking, my
wife, Grace, uses a large injecting syringe to inject the
skinned bird with a mixture of melted butter and beer. First,
to infuse flavors, she simmers a stick of butter, along with
Next, remove the gizzard’s leathery inner lining.
rosemary and crushed garlic, at a very low heat for about a
half hour, then strains out the pieces of garlic and rosemary.
She then adds a can or bottle of beer to the butter and brings
the mixture to a brief low boil before injecting all parts of
the bird.
The bird’s exterior is rubbed with olive oil, rosemary
and crushed garlic, and then placed in a covered roaster
or pan and baked at 375 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes and
basted twice. She then removes the cover and bakes the
bird another 15 minutes at 325 degrees to brown its exterior
before serving. The beer adds a unique flavor to the meat –
perhaps it is the hops – and any kind, from the cheapest light
beer to the finest home brew, works for this recipe.
Another recipe that came down through my wife’s family
calls for skillet browning pheasant legs and wings, as well
as the breasts if you wish, followed by slow baking. First,
make several cuts into the thighs and drumsticks. This
allows hot liquid to enter the meat during baking, increasing
tenderness. Also, if using breast fillets, pound them with a
meat tenderizer. Then lightly flour and season the pieces
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 37
Pheasant hearts, gizzards and livers (not shown) are similar in
taste and texture to those of chicken.
Another quick and easy recipe for pheasant legs and
wings, or again the entire bird, is slow-cooked pheasant
with sauerkraut. In the morning, flour and season
the pheasant pieces with salt, pepper and dried sweet
basil and brown them in a skillet. If in a hurry, forego
the flouring and browning. Next, place a layer of the
browned or raw pieces in a Crock-Pot, followed by
a layer of sauerkraut, apple slices and a sprinkling of
caraway seed. Continue the layering, leaving room at the
top of the Crock-Pot for a few potatoes. I set the CrockPot at a high temperature for a few hours, then reduce the
heat and cook until supper time. Fans of the old Bohemia
Café in Omaha will enjoy this recipe. If you prefer the
dish Bavarian style, sprinkle a little brown sugar between
the layers.
Also tasty are browned pheasant legs and wings slow
cooked in a cup or two of red cooking wine. Or slow
cook them in chicken stock, and once tender, use a fork
My favorite soup made with the broth is my own
concoction I call sweet and sour pheasant soup. To the
broth I add diced sweet potatoes (garden grown ones are
the sweetest and make the best soup), parsnips and onions,
and then boil it at medium heat for about 30 minutes until
the vegetables are tender. Next, I add ½ to 1 cup of apple
cider vinegar and a few tablespoons each of real maple
syrup and blackstrap or full flavor molasses. Bring the soup
back to a boil before serving. I usually ad-lib on the amount
of vinegar, syrup and molasses I include, depending on
the amount of broth. Start with smaller amounts of these
ingredients and slowly add more until the soup is flavorful
and has a good balance of sweet and sour. This is a hearty,
healthy soup that will keep you warm on a cold winter night.
with salt, pepper and garlic powder and lightly brown them
in oil in a skillet. Once browned, place the pieces, along
with a sliced onion and one 12-ounce can of chicken stock
and an equal amount of water, in a roasting pan or casserole
dish. Cover the dish and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes,
then reduce the temperature to 350 degrees and bake for an
additional 1.5 to 2 hours. If all the liquid evaporates during
cooking, add a bit more water, but not too much, as little
liquid should remain in the pan when the dish is done. Out
of the oven, the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender with a deepfried taste.
Lard is my preferred oil, both for this recipe and anytime
I brown or fry pheasant. You cannot beat it for flavor.
Remember your grandmother’s fried chicken? Frying in lard
is probably what made it taste so good. I render my own
lard, but it can still be found in most grocery stores. Olive
oil is my second oil of choice.
Hearts, Livers and
Gizzards
Pheasant legs and wings slow cooked with sauerkraut and
potatoes make a complete meal.
Pheasants can be baked or slow cooked whole or butchered
into pieces for other dishes.
38 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
Sweet and sour pheasant soup will keep you warm on a cold
winter night.
She often serves the organs with a citrusy or
vinegary sauce or dressing to cut through their
richness. Another Nguyen tip, “I bring all meats,
including the organ meats, to room temperature before
cooking. Otherwise, when cooked to medium or
medium rare, the meat will still be cold on the inside,
when done on the outside.”
For adventuresome hunters, Nguyen recommends
pheasant liver pâté. Though fancy in name, it is rather
simple to make. First she sautés the livers to medium
rare in butter along with dashes of freshly chopped
garlic, rosemary, thyme and cognac. She then blends
the cooked livers in a food processor and runs the
resulting paste through a colander to remove pieces of
rosemary and to provide a smooth texture. She favors
the pâté spread on French bread. “I love it, but it is an
acquired taste,” said Nguyen.
to shred the meat from the bones. The shredded meat can
be used in ways ranging from pheasant salad sandwiches to
sautéed in taco spices and added to Mexican dishes.
When butchering pheasants, I sometimes leave the wings
and legs attached to the carcass and use them as soup meat.
To make soup stock, I gently boil the carcasses in a pot of
water for a few hours along with a chopped onion
or two, carrots, celery, fresh garlic and parsley and a
teaspoon or so each of salt, pepper, sweet basil, rosemary,
thyme and sage. When the meat is tender, I pull the
carcasses from the pot to cool and then strip the meat from
the bones. Next, I strain the broth through a colander to
remove small bones and the vegetables and then add the
meat back to the broth.
“Pheasant hearts, livers and gizzards are close in taste and
texture to those of a chicken, though they are a bit smaller in
size,” said Jenny Nguyen, NEBRASKAland associate editor
and author of Hunting for Food. “If you like one, you will
like the other.”
Most people prefer their fowl hearts, livers and gizzards
simply floured and fried. In some families, tradition calls
for flavoring the holiday turkey stuffing with finely chopped
fried hearts and gizzards. Nguyen’s approach to cooking
pheasant organ meats is less conventional. “I sprinkle them
with salt and pepper, pierce them with a sprig of rosemary
and then grill them quickly at a high temperature.” She
emphasized quick searing and not cooking them past
medium – “pink on the inside.” “If you overcook wild game,
it generally does not taste as good,” said Nguyen. “This
is even more important with hearts, livers and gizzards,
as overcooking brings out their organ flavor and toughens
them. This is especially critical with gizzards as they are
chewy already.”
Grilled pheasant hearts and gizzards, left side of plate, and fried
livers, right side of plate, make tempting appetizers.
Nguyen freezes the pheasant hearts, livers and gizzards
from several hunts until she has a meal’s worth. She
recommends not storing them for long in a refrigerator as
the organs are rich in blood, which easily oxidizes when
exposed to air, turning the meat brown and stale tasting.
So hunters, next time you harvest
a few rooster pheasants, keep all the
parts and try a new recipe or two. The
results might surprise you. ■
Gerry Steinauer is botanist for
the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission and has been writing and
photographing for NEBRASKAland
Magazine for more than 20 years.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 39
The Old Wolf Oak Tree
Ponca State Park tree is one of the oldest in Nebraska
By Mike Groenewold, Park Horticulturist
N
named because they are wolfing up
space. These old specimens somehow
gained a foothold – through superior
genetics, a slightly better niche of site
conditions or escape by fire or animal
browsing – to overtop and outcompete
adjacent trees. And with this advantage
in growth, a wolf tree can even shade
out any seedlings that emerge beneath.
Once a tree gains elder status, it
will reign supreme over its section
of woodlands until it grows old and
dies.
40 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
– Jeff Fields,
Regional Park
Superintendent,
Northeast Region
JEFF FIELDS
has never been core dated. The Ponca
Wolf Oak exhibits very smooth bark
when compared to typical bur oaks,
indicating very slow growth at least in
recent years. Slow growth translates to
very narrow annual growth rings. So
likely the Ponca tree could be much
older than the State Champion bur oak,
which is twice the circumference.
The park woodlands looked much
different during pre-settlement in
1644. Historically, fire was the major
ecological force in the Missouri River
bluff ecosystem forming a mosaic
of plant communities. Dense forests
of basswood, red oak, black oak and
hickories grew in somewhat fireprotected bottoms and on low northand east-facing slopes. Higher on these
slopes were woodlands dominated by
the more drought- and fire-tolerant
bur oak. And in southeastern Nebraska
chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
also grow on these drier sites. These
dry west- and south-facing slopes
and ridge tops supported tallgrass
prairie and an oak savannah (prairie
with scattered oaks); fire discouraged
the encroachment of trees in prairie
sites and limited the densities of
woodlands in savannah environments.
Consequently, the Ponca Wolf Oak
probably originally sprouted and
developed with only a few other trees
on its home acre.
Settlement gradually developed
following the Lewis and Clark
Expedition in 1804; and, fearful of fire,
settlers began extinguishing any fires
started by lightning or other sources
of ignition. The gradual absence of
fire has allowed the establishment of
many other mid-canopy and understory
species, creating a dense forest canopy
often limiting the development of oak
regeneration.
Despite increased competition over
three centuries, the Ponca Wolf Oak
has prevailed and appears healthy.
During a recent visit the foliage looked
normal, with little apparent damage of
fungal blight and insect damage, and
only a small percentage of the crown
exhibits dieback of branches. I also
noticed bulbous callus growth covering
most of the limbs that had been
removed or died and fallen from the
Sign reads: This oak tree began its life in 1644 and was 143 years old when the U.S.
Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787. The tree was 223 years old when Nebraska
became a state in 1867.
crown; a good sign of tree vigor. It’s
anyone’s guess how long the tree will
survive, but for the short term its future
looks promising.
Tree huggers like me can be odd
nuts, and we often become emotionally
attached to special trees, sometimes
assigning a living soul to ancient
woodland specimens; and as far out as
it seems, we just can’t help but wonder
what they have witnessed during their
lifetime. How cool it would be if they
could share a video story of the change
in their landscape, a witness of people
and creatures who passed by. ■
Mike Groenewold has been a park
horticulturist at the Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission since 1977.
Fire scar
A section of the core extracted in 1964 (enlarged approximately 300 percent) shows faint growth rings and fire scars.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 41
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN
The Ponca Wolf Oak has fairly smooth
bark in comparison to typical bur oaks.
The Ponca Wolf Oak was core
sampled in 1964, we believe by staff
of the now Nebraska Forest Service,
and estimated at 320 years. To age a
tree, foresters use an increment borer
to drill and extract a soda straw-sized
core of wood from the tree stem. If the
drill can reach the pith center of the
tree from the perimeter of the trunk, a
sample containing each annual growth
ring may be extracted. After adding
about five years to the count of rings,
to account for seedling emergence and
development, a reasonably accurate
estimate of the age may be derived.
Our current age estimate is determined
by adding 53 years to the original
estimate in 1964. Colleagues of mine
agree that this tree is undoubtedly one
of the oldest in Nebraska. As a timeline
perspective, this tree may have emerged
as a seedling on the year that William
Penn, who founded the Pennsylvania
Colony, was born.
Currently the Ponca Wolf Oak
is 9.8 feet in circumference.
Interestingly, the Nebraska Champion
Tree Registry, maintained by the
Nebraska Forest Service, lists the State
Champion (largest) bur oak at 18.7
feet in circumference, which grows
somewhere in Peru County. But to my
knowledge the State Champion bur oak
“O
ld bur oaks are like
the tribal elders of the
forest. Throughout their
life they have thrived and they
have suffered, but they endure
– eventually outliving all their
neighbors (including us). They
are a patient tree – never in
a hurry. They are slow to put
leaves on and slow to let them
go. Other trees foolishly expend
their energy, grow impatiently,
and search for their day in the
sun. Meanwhile the old elders of
the forest witness their foolish
and frivolous expenditure of
resources.
We should
all take some
good advice
from these old
oaks.”
Ponca State Park sits on the wooded
bluffs of the picturesque, unchannelized
Missouri River about 4 miles from the
town of Ponca. If you haven’t visited
Ponca, fall is the perfect time. Go to
OutdoorNebraska.org/parks for more info
about this unique park.
PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN
ebraska Game and Parks
Commission properties
include some very beautiful
and interesting habitats and
ecological systems, and each
region of the state contains a variety of
wetlands, grasslands and woodlands.
Consequently, unique plant specimens
may be found at our parks and wildlife
management areas.
Ponca State Park, one the agency’s
flagship parks, is located on bluffs
overlooking the Missouri River just
2 miles north of the town of Ponca.
Growing in the interior of park
woodlands is a bur oak (Quercus
macrocarpa) estimated at 373 years
old. This “Old Wolf Tree” was so
named and designated as a “Nebraska
Heritage Tree” by the Nebraska
Community Forestry Council and the
Nebraska Forest Service in 2006.
Foresters often name/identify old,
large and solitary trees of any species
that occupy considerable space in their
neck of the woods as “wolf trees,” so
Ponca State Park
Clear Creek
A Special Hunting Area
for Waterfowlers
Story and photos by Julie Geiser
ver the years, I’ve hunted
geese and ducks many
places, but some of my
fondest memories have
been made with family
and friends at Clear Creek Wildlife
Management Area (WMA) west of
Lake McConaughy. My son shot his
first duck from a pit there, our family
dogs have retrieved many a bird there,
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
O
and the laughs and breakfasts in the
blinds are icing on the cake. Best of all
this area is open to the public.
Clear Creek WMA is run by
the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission. Work is done each year
to improve habitat for pheasants, deer
and waterfowl, which gives hunters
the chance to hunt various species
at the WMA. Clear Creek is broken
The sun peeks over the trees and casts shadows from a decoy spread on a frozen marsh at Clear Creek.
down into four different areas that may
be used by the public: a traditional
wildlife management area, two refuges
and a special hunting area – each
having specific regulations.
WMA
PHOTO BY TOM GEISER
Julie Geiser and her Labrador retriever, Berkley, after a great day of goose hunting
last year at Clear Creek WMA.
42 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
The eastern portion of Clear Creek is
a traditional wildlife management area
open to hunting, trapping and fishing
within the appropriate seasons. This
area encompasses more than 3,200
acres of riparian woodlands, wetlands,
river channel, lake bed and upland
grasslands, and offers excellent deer,
turkey, pheasant and dove hunting.
Those willing to put in the effort to
hike to the river can be rewarded with
excellent waterfowl hunting. This area
borders the Lake McConaughy State
Recreation Area and is available for
public access year-round.
Seasonal Refuges
Two refuges are included at Clear
Creek. The seasonal refuge covers
2,500 acres on the west end of the
property, including land on both the
north and south sides of the North
Platte River. It is open to most hunting,
fishing, trapping and other outdoor
activities from Feb. 15 until the
Monday before Thanksgiving, when
it becomes a waterfowl refuge. The
exception is waterfowl hunting, which
is only allowed on the wetlands along
the east boundary of the refuge.
A portion of Clear Creek is included
in the Garden County Refuge,
established in 1925 to provide a
sanctuary for migrating waterfowl, and
is closed to all bird hunting. Extending
110 yards from the North Platte River
banks and its side channels throughout
Garden County, the area is open to
deer hunting during all legal seasons
Clear Creek WMA
Clear Creek Wildlife Management Area
is located about 4 miles southeast of
Lewellen in Garden County. This area
encompasses more than 6,000 acres
of riparian woodlands, wetlands, river
channel, lake bed and upland grasslands.
It offers deer, turkey, pheasant, dove,
rabbit and squirrel hunting, as well as
fishing and mushroom hunting during
specific seasons.
NOVEMBER 2017• NEBRASKAland 43
until the refuge closes on the Monday
before Thanksgiving, at which time it
is closed to all access until Feb. 15.
Once the refuges close, they provide
sanctuary to thousands of migrating
Canada, white-fronted and snow geese,
numerous duck species and trumpeter
swans throughout the winter months.
Special Hunting Area
The Special Hunting Area (SHA)
of Clear Creek consists of about 300
acres, which includes 10 four-person
pit blinds, and is open to hunting for
waterfowl and other game species until
the Monday before Thanksgiving. At
that point, the area is open only to
those who are assigned a blind through
a drawing held each morning at the
Clear Creek check station.
The drawings, conducted by
Commission staff at Clear Creek,
determine the order of blind selection
for each hunting party. Five of the
blinds are located in the meadow along
the refuge boundary, four on wetlands
and one on the North Platte River.
Duck hunters prefer the blinds on the
water, numbers six through 10, until
it freezes. Hunters in all of the blinds
stand a good chance of decoying geese
coming and going to and from the
refuge and Lake McConaughy. When
winter weather pushes new geese
down from the north is when hunters
have the best success. Weekly updates
are available online showing the bird
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
There are 10 blinds, each equipped with two
dozen decoys, for waterfowl hunters utilizing the
special hunting area.
44 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
harvests from each of the blinds.
Up to five blinds are available by
reservation. Hunters may apply for
dates during August and September,
and a drawing is held the first
Wednesday in October. Applications
are available on the Commission’s
website, the agency’s North Platte
office and at the Clear Creek WMA
check station. If any advance
reservation dates remain open after the
drawing, hunters may call the district
office in North Platte to reserve one.
No more than two advance reservations
are allowed per individual per year.
Hunters with reservations have a
separate drawing for blind selection;
the remaining blinds are allocated by
a second drawing. All drawings are
conducted 45 minutes before legal
shooting hours for that day, and hunters
must check in at the station to be
eligible for the drawing.
On weekends, the slots that can be
reserved are typically filled, and there
may be more hunting parties than there
are blinds remaining. On weekdays,
however, there is typically room for all
who want to hunt. Blinds not filled in
the drawing and those vacated during
the day are assigned for use on a firstcome, first-served basis. There is an
18-shot shell limit per hunter using
the blinds, and only non-toxic shot is
allowed at all areas of Clear Creek.
Part of the fun of hunting at Clear
Creek is meeting the folks who come
to join the hunt during the drawing.
Many people have hunted Clear Creek
longer than I have – 25 years – and
make it a tradition to meet up with
hunting partners there, whether they are
locals or out-of-staters.
Seasoned hunters at Clear Creek will
bring two-wheel carts to haul gear to
the blinds or sleds when there is snow
on the ground. Some of the blinds have
a walk-through door, making it easy for
hunters and dogs to get in and out. One
blind is wheelchair accessible.
Each blind is equipped with two
dozen goose decoys for hunters to use.
Waders or hip boots should be on hand
when hunting blinds six through 10, as
there are wetland areas around them.
Hunters are also encouraged to use
hunting dogs to retrieve downed birds
from wetland areas, the North Platte
River and the refuge.
Downed birds may be retrieved from
the seasonal refuge by hunters or a
dog sent for a retrieve, but no firearms
are allowed on the refuge, and no
decoys may be placed past the refuge
boundary signs. ■
For more information about Clear
Creek WMA and opportunities
there, visit OutdoorNebraska.org/
waterfowlchecklist/.
Planning Ahead
for the Hunt
Hunters may hunt only
with the group they
registered with for the
drawing. Resident hunters
age 16 and older and all
nonresidents must have
a valid Nebraska hunting
permit, habitat stamp,
Nebraska waterfowl stamp,
federal migratory waterfowl
stamp (duck stamp) and
HIP registration. Permits
and stamps are not sold on
the area, so purchase these
required permits and stamps
in advance.
A Migratory Bird Harvest
Information Program
number (HIP) is required by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service and Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission
regulations. HIP registration
is free and is available 24
hours a day by calling tollfree 888-403-2473 or online
at OutdoorNebraska.org.
Aside from the hunting
season, Clear Creek WMA
is popular with hikers,
mushroom hunters and
birdwatchers. Birders enjoy
some excellent viewing
opportunities of waterfowl,
swans, cranes, songbirds,
raptors and shore birds
found throughout the year in
the wetland meadows of the
WMA.
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 45
Purple-headed
Sneezeweed
Nebraska’s only
known population
of purple-headed
sneezeweed was
recently discovered
at the Fertig Prairie in
Colfax County.
A lone population on
the lower Platte
Story and photos by Gerry Steinauer, Botanist
I
n July of 2016, Mike Bullerman,
Prairie Plains Resource Institute
ecologist, called me: “The sneezeweeds
at Fertig Prairie look different and they
are blooming way too early,” he said.
“Are there two sneezeweed species in
the state?”
“No, we just have common
sneezeweed,” I responded. “How
are the Fertig plants different?” He
described plants shorter than common
sneezeweed (Helenium autumnale)
with purple-centered flower-heads, not
yellow. Most peculiarly, the plants were
blooming in mid-July, well before the
late-August bloom period of common
sneezeweed, a widespread species in
Nebraska growing in wet meadows
and shallow marshes. I suggested that
he photograph the plant next time at
Fertig, a 45-acre, Wachiska Audubon
Society-owned Platte River wet
meadow in Colfax County. So he did.
The photo and a quick check of
Steyermark’s Flora of Missouri
identified the plant as purple-headed
sneezeweed (H. flexuosum), a species
never before recorded for our state and
whose nearest known population is
near Kansas City, Missouri, more than
250 miles from Fertig Prairie. This
species is widespread over the eastern
United States growing in similar
habitats as common sneezeweed, but
unlike its close relative, it does not
range out onto the dry Plains.
This past July, Bullerman and I
visited Fertig. Expecting only a few
plants, I was surprised by the thousands
of purple-headed sneezeweeds that
46 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
bloomed among the bluestem and
cordgrass. Sneezeweeds contain bitter
and potentially toxic lactones and are
avoided by livestock, allowing them to
occasionally proliferate in overgrazed
pastures. This, however, was no
overgrazed pasture, but a quality hay
meadow with lanceleaf blazing star,
Indian-plantain and other disturbancesensitive plants. Wachiska Audubon
only recently purchased the meadow
from the Fertig family under whose
care this rich flora survived.
To document its occurrence, we
collected and pressed several purpleheaded sneezeweed specimens for
deposit at the University of Nebraska’s
Bessey Herbarium. The Fertig
sneezeweeds ranged from a foot to over
2 feet tall and had fibrous roots that
reached only shallowly into the loamy
sand soil. The lance-shaped, up to
4-inch-long leaves tapered at their base
to narrow wings that extended down the
stem. The wedged-shaped, yellow ray
flowers, which ringed the flower-heads’
outer edge, had three-lobed tips. This
latter feature and the “winged stems”
distinguish sneezeweeds from “lookalike” members of the aster family, such
as sunflowers and coneflowers.
Origins of the
Fertig Sneezeweeds
For nearly 18 years, while seed
collecting for prairie restorations,
Bullerman has hiked the wet meadow
complex that survives in the Platte
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 47
Common sneezeweed flowers greet the early morning sun in a wet meadow near
Worms, Nebraska, in Merrick County. The flower heads of sneezeweeds, as well as
other members of the aster family, are composed of numerous small flowers that
collectively mimic typical flowers and act to attract pollinators. Showy, single-petaled
“ray flowers” line the flower heads’ outer edge, while hundreds of yellow, petal-less
“disk flowers” occupy their center.
WINGED
STEM
The “winged stem” of common
sneezeweed. The wings are often more
prominent on lower stems.
48 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
bottoms of Colfax and western Dodge
counties, including the Fertig prairie,
and never before encountered purpleheaded sneezeweed. This makes me
believe that, indeed, the Fertig plants
represent our state’s only population,
which in turn, begs the question, how
did they get there?
Similarly, other plant species
that range over the eastern United
States have unexplainable, isolated
populations along eastern Nebraska
streams. Our state’s only colony of the
delicate, white-flowered snow trillium,
for example, grows in oak woods on
limestone bluffs above Weeping Water
Creek in Cass County, 200 miles
from its nearest known population in
northwestern Missouri.
Perhaps purple-headed sneezeweed
has existed in eastern Nebraska for
millennia and the Fertig plants are
relicts of an ancient, once widespread
population in the region. For several
thousand years after the close of the
last Ice Age, which ended roughly
12,000 years ago, the Great Plains’
climate was wetter than at present.
Plausibly, during this mesic period,
purple-headed sneezeweed migrated
up the Missouri River valley from the
Purple-headed sneezeweed is abundant in portions of the Fertig Prairie, a 45-acre, Platte River valley wet meadow.
southeast into eastern Nebraska. When
the climate began to dry starting about
8,000 years ago, the sneezeweed’s
range would have contracted eastward,
leaving only scattered populations
in our moist, eastern stream valleys.
Since Euroamerican settlement in the
mid-1800s, nearly all the region’s
bottomland meadows have been plowed
or severely degraded by overgrazing
and invasive plants, leaving the Fertig
sneezeweeds as sole survivors.
Another possibility: purple-headed
sneezeweed established more recently in
the Fertig Prairie via long-distance seed
dispersal. Historically, large ungulates
were abundant in the region. Could a
young bull elk, for example, forced
from its home range – say in northern
Missouri – by rival males, have carried
sneezeweed seed, stowed deep in its fur
or undigested in its gut, to the Platte
valley? Conceivably, one spring morning
long ago, a Sandhill crane rose from its
meadow roost far to the southeast with
sneezeweed seed mud-caked to its scaly
toes, its destination the lower Platte.
Humans are also known transporters
of seed. For example, a recent study
of visitors to Antarctica, whose
shoes, clothes and gear were vacuumsearched, found that nearly all of
them unknowingly carried seeds of
non-native plants to the continent.
Likewise, westward trudging settlers on
the Mormon Trail, which passed near
the Fertig Prairie, may have carried
sneezeweed seed in mud plastered
beneath their wagons or trapped in the
laces of their well-worn boots.
The name “sneezeweed” originates
from Native Americans’ use of the
plant’s dried flower heads as a snuff
to induce sneezing to cure headaches,
colds and blocked sinuses. Some tribes
used the snuff in a similar manner to
aid in the expulsion of the afterbirth.
One can imagine the Pawnees, who
occupied the lower Platte valley
in historic times, trading with the
neighboring Otoe Tribe, whose range
dipped into northwestern Missouri,
for purple-headed sneezeweed snuff.
Composed of dried flowers, the snuff
conceivably contained viable seeds,
and its ultimate post-sneeze destination
would be the ground and germination.
A genetic study might solve the
mystery of the Fertig sneezeweeds: Are
they relicts of an ancient, widespread
population in eastern Nebraska or did
they establish more recently via seed? I
lean toward the former theory, but you
can ponder your own ideas. ■
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 49
A Dry Idea
The Sticky Business of Wader Repair
By Justin Haag
P
atching waders can be a futile effort. If you want
to just make it through the season it can often be
accomplished with some success, however.
As a fisheries biologist with the Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission, Joe Rydell of Alliance is in waders
as much as anyone I know. Rydell and his coworkers spend
many of their days in the water completing fish surveys and
other projects that help improve angler success. Their waders
take a beating and they are often given the opportunity to
test their patching skills.
The neoprene waders of today have been a great
advancement in comfort, camouflage and warmth, but Rydell
said they aren’t nearly as easy to repair as the rubber waders
of yesteryear.
“You could take tire patches and repair those old rubber
waders all day long,” he said.
When it comes to fixing a leak in newer waders, Rydell
said the best bet is to refer to the instructions on patching
kits that come with most new waders. It’s not uncommon
for wader users to misplace that kit, though, so here are his
recommendations.
The first step, Rydell said, is to give the waders a good
inspection. If the boots are cracked or other parts of the
waders are suffering from dry rot, it’s time to invest in a new
pair.
Some leaks are trickier than others, and small pinhole
leaks away from seams are the best candidates for patching.
“Once you start noticing dampness from a leak in the
seams, which usually begins in the crotch, or at the top of
the boots, you’d better start putting money away for a new
When the boots of waders become cracked, such as this, there
is not much that can be done to save them.
pair of waders,” he said.
If you have decided to proceed, choose your adhesive. A
brand name product like AquaSeal is probably best to use as
the patching adhesive, but Rydell said he’s had success with
clear silicone – the type sold in the home improvement aisle
for use in caulking guns.
Next, to pinpoint the leak, take your dry waders and fill
them with water. Once water starts seeping through, which
shouldn’t take long, use chalk to mark the leaks.
After the waders dry out, it’s time to patch. Cut a piece of
patching material, such as neoprene or another impermeable
flexible fabric, and cut to size. A product such as acetone,
along with some light sanding, will help ensure a good bond.
Once the area has been prepped, apply the adhesive around
the hole, cover with patching material, and cover with
another layer of adhesive.
Allow your work to dry for a day or so and get back to
enjoying the great outdoors. With the help of your patching
job, and perhaps a little luck, you’ll come home dry when
the outing is over. ■
PHOTOS BY JUSTIN HAAG
Joe Rydell of Alliance fishes in waders at Blue Lake near the Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge.
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Flying Ants
A Wood River prairie introduction.
By Evan Barrientos
O
n a warm November afternoon I was walking
through a prairie near Wood River when I realized
I was not alone. Slowly, it dawned on me that I was
standing below thousands, maybe millions, of flying
insects. As I gazed around I saw dozens of swarms
the size of cars, incessantly whirring and shifting. Slightly
hypnotized, I walked underneath one of the swarms and saw
many of the insects landing on the grasses below. Up close, I
could see they had slender waists, suggesting they might be
ants or wasps.
wings
in order
to convert her
wing muscle into food to
feed her offspring via glandular secretions. Then, by herself,
she crawls away to start her own colony.
Interestingly, Trager explained that the ant
in my photo is actually an unnamed species.
There are currently three different ant
species all being called Myrmica americana
because two of them haven’t been
officially named yet. The unnamed species
I encountered is actually quite common,
which just shows how much we still have to
learn about the amazing insects in our own
backyards. ■
Several of the insects were caught in strands of spider
silk I had never seen before but suddenly were everywhere.
While I was looking at one snared insect, I noticed
something black and fuzzy scuttling toward it. After a
moment of hiding, a jumping spider darted over to the insect
and carried it away. This made me wonder: were the silk
strands there by coincidence, or did the spiders realize there
was a bonanza of food overhead and hastily cast lines like
fishermen at a salmon run?
This experience left me with many questions. First and
foremost: what the heck had I seen? To find out, I sent
photos to James Trager, an ant expert who works for the
Missouri Botanical Garden. He instantly identified the
insects to be a species of ant called Myrmica americana.
According to Trager, male Myrmica ants swarm together
in order to attract females to mate. Having been drawn
below the swarm myself, I can see why this works! During
the swarm, males descend to the curious females watching
below and mate with them, if they can avoid the predators.
Males are so zealous that dozens will compete over a single
female, forming what some call a “mating ball.” The females
are no less dedicated. After mating, she pulls out her own
52 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
PHOTOS BY EVAN BARRIENTOS
Caught in a strand of silk, this flying ant awaits a jumping spider’s grasp.
Evan Barrientos is the monitoring and
outreach assistant for the The Nature
Conservancy in southwestern Oregon.
He has a passion for communicating
ecological restoration
and conservation
through photography,
videography and
blogging.
Ants swarm above a tallgrass prairie in Nebraska.
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Hunting for Mentors
Prepare now for changing a person’s life forever.
By Jeff Kurrus
T
here may never be a better
time to take a kid hunting
than November. To watch a
youngster’s eyes bug out after
seeing their first covey rise
or flock of mallards making one last
turn toward the decoys before fully
committing is priceless.
But simple hunts can be just
as rewarding. Some of my most
pleasurable hunting experiences as a
kid were squirrel hunts, and now I’m
starting these hunts with my own family.
November is also the time for the deer
rut, where bucks often lose control of all
logical thoughts and begin chasing does.
But it doesn’t take a snorting buck in
rut to do it. It doesn’t hurt, mind you,
but every trip in nature becomes an
outdoor classroom for a
young hunter when they
are allowed to walk the edge of a field
or through a game trail in the woods.
What if you don’t know all the
answers to the questions that they’ll
ask? Simply shrug and say, “I don’t
know.” This moment then becomes an
opportunity for further investigation
by both the mentor and mentee. These
hunts are always learning experiences
for everyone involved. And in a month
like November, there is a lot that can be
learned together.
In addition, if you enjoy
these mentoring sessions, visit
OutdoorNebraska.org/mentoredhunts
to learn about additional outreach
opportunities or OutdoorNebraska.org/
huntereducation to learn about becoming
part of the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission’s Mentored Youth Archery
Program for the fall of 2018.
In this program, qualified Bowhunter
Education instructors, who are also
veteran hunters, are paired with
bowhunter education graduates ages 12
to 17 for a full archery season.
Mentors teach participants how to
scout, safely hang tree stands, and walk
new archers through each step of a hunt.
Regardless of what you decide, make
sure you do something. Take a friend,
neighbor or youngster into the field and
continue our outdoor heritage. ■
PHOTOS BY JEFF KURRUS
Abigale Bennetts, left, JP Wachter and Zachary Bennetts, all of Lincoln, archery hunt at Oak Glen Wildlife Management Area in
Seward County.
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Antique Guide
Winter “Kid-approved” Wildlife Crafts
A to-do list when the weather outside becomes frigid.
By Allie Claypool, Outdoor Education Assistant
Y
ou have probably noticed the
weather outside is becoming a
bit more frosty. The critters of
Nebraska feel this change more
than we do. You may have
observed an abundance of birds flying
in the sky or that the neighborhood
squirrels look extra plump this time of
year.
With the cold comes snow and with
snow comes snow days, which leave
you and your family trapped inside.
Well, you’re in luck, because the
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
has a few fun ideas you can try with
your family when staying home is the
best option.
hollowed out orange peels, plastic
pop bottles, or anything you can find
around your house to help keep the
seed contained.
Once you have completed your bird
feeders, find a good place outside to
hang them. It is best if you can hang it
near a window so you can encourage
your kids to watch for bird visitors.
Homemade Bird Feeders
This is an easy craft you can make
using what you already have around
your house. This activity doesn’t have
to be something you overthink. Let
your creativity come out.
What you could use:
Ribbon, old shoe laces, or pipe
cleaners.
Bird seed. Do not use whole
grains of rice.
Gelatin or peanut butter.
Pine cones, cookie cutters,
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Make a Bird Journal
Add to the fun by creating
a bird journal with your kids.
Encourage them to draw the
birds they see on a journal
page. All you’ll need for
this is construction paper,
printer paper, and markers
or crayons. I recommend
buying or borrowing the book Birds of
Nebraska Field Guide by Stan Tekiela
to help your kids learn
more about what birds
they might see.
Create a Hibernation Fort
Make a fun activity by creating a
pillow and blanket fort with your kids
while teaching them about animals
who hibernate to survive the cold
winter. Hibernation is defined as a state
of inactivity when an animal’s body
temperature lowers, their breathing
becomes slower, and their heart rate
and metabolism also slow down.
Some Nebraska animals that hibernate
include striped skunks, prairie dogs
and bats. ■
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▲ This picture approximately from 1959 shows me, now 85 years old,
catching fish at the Kohrs farm pond near Johnson, Nebraska.
Six of the women had attended rural Zion Lutheran Church,
married, had families and got together once a month and called
ourselves the Round Robin bunch. When our families were grown,
we no longer got together socially, but continued to keep in touch
by writing the Round Robin letter, mailing the fat envelope to all six
couples and starting a new chain letter again.
The now remaining persons telephone each other occasionally. The
Good Life in Nebraska.
– Inez Gebers, Johnson, Nebraska
▲ From Webster County during the late 1930s – a Sunday
afternoon hunt! My uncle Carl Pearson had been to the county
church (note the tie) that morning.
My father worked at night on the railroad so he and his friends
could make an afternoon hunt.
Pictured left to right are unknown, Roy Shore, Roy Bramble and
Carl Pearson.
– Russell A. Bramble, Hastings, Nebraska
At my grandparents’ farm northwest of Madison in the late 1940s or
early 1950s. I am the only girl in the picture, and I can remember that day
some 67 years ago. All my uncles who lived in Omaha would come for the
weekend to fish in the Elkhorn River. They always hoped to catch enough
fish for the supper table that night. You’ll notice they all had bottles of beer
brought from Omaha and orange or grape soda for my brother
and me. Pictured left to right are: Back row – my dad Joe Hekrdle;
uncle Joe Pavlis, Jr.; grandpa Joe Pavlis; my uncle’s cousin Frank
Kulicek and uncle Marty Novy. Front row – brother Tom Hekrdle;
uncle Johnny Yak; and
myself. All gone now
except Tom and me.
– Mary Ann Vacha,
Madison,
Nebraska
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.
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Venison
Cottage Pie
An English/Irish favorite
made with wild game.
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
W
ho doesn’t love a good
meat pie? This one is as
easy as it gets. There’s no
rolling out dough to speak
of – no pastry to make.
There’s meat, potatoes, and gravy,
and it doesn’t have to look perfect.
The more “rustic,” the better.
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1. Cut peeled potatoes into large
chunks and place into a pot. Cover
with water, add a couple pinches
of salt and cook until tender. Drain
potatoes, return to the pot and mash
with milk and butter. Shred/grate
cheese and mix into the potatoes.
Season to taste and set aside.
2. Heat oil in a wide-bottomed pot
over medium heat. Add chopped
60 NEBRASKAland • NOVEMBER 2017
bay leaf.
5. Pour meat into an 8x8-inch
baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes
over the top and sprinkle with more
shredded cheddar. Place pie onto
the top rack of your oven and
broil until mashed potato topping
becomes golden. (Place a cookie
sheet underneath the baking dish to
catch any liquid that might bubble
over.) Scoop out meat pie onto
serving plates and garnish with fresh
parsley. ■
This recipe
and photograph
originally appeared
on Jenny’s Food
for Hunters blog at
foodforhunters.com.
RECIPE PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN, DEER PHOTO BY ERIC FOWLER
Servings: 4-6
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour 20
minutes
Ingredients:
3 large russet potatoes, peeled
½ cup milk
2 tablespoons butter
2 ounces extra sharp white
cheddar, plus more
1 tablespoon oil
1½ pounds ground venison
1 large onion, chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh
thyme
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 dashes Worcestershire sauce
½ cup dry red wine
1 bay leaf
2 cups beef broth
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon freshly cracked
pepper
½ teaspoon celery seed
Frozen peas and carrots, to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish
onion and a
pinch of salt and cook until browned,
but do not burn – lower heat if
necessary. Add thyme, garlic and
tomato paste. Stir for 1 minute.
3. Turn heat up to mediumhigh and add ground venison.
Brown meat and then add flour.
Thoroughly combine the flour into
the meat-onion mixture and cook
for 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Next, add wine and stir frequently
until wine evaporates; lower heat if
necessary.
4. Add beef broth and bay leaf.
Simmer for 20-30 minutes, or
until liquid turns into a thick
gravy, stirring occasionally. Add
Worcestershire sauce, celery seed,
salt and pepper. Take off heat and stir
in frozen peas and carrots. Discard
NOVEMBER 2017 • NEBRASKAland 61
The Three-legged Doe
L
ast year I was hunting from my blind when the doe pictured above walked in front
of me about 35 yards away. At first I didn’t see that she was missing a front right
leg through the phragmites. After snapping a few photos and checking my settings
I saw that she only had three legs. I impatiently waited to see if she would turn the
other direction so I could see her other side. My curiosity was running rampant as
I attempted to form a hypothesis on what might have happened to her. She wasn’t in any
distress, and I didn’t see any signs of blood, so it must have been an old wound or perhaps
hereditary. She stood quietly facing the same direction as if she was waiting for something
when a pair of fawns caught up to her. They paused to look and sniff
the air and on their way they went. But I couldn’t help but wonder
what happened to her leg.
It’s amazing to me how resilient deer can be, but it shouldn’t be
that much of a surprise. Deer are survivalists by instinct and will.
No matter how deep the scars, deer seem to prevail and the saying
of “whatever doesn’t kill you will make you stronger” seems to hold
true for them.
Julie Geiser
September 21, 2017
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Position: 798 (13 views)