Volume 96, Issue 1, 2018
January-February 2018
- Identifier:
- nela.2018_096_01
- Title:
- Volume 96, Issue 1, 2018
- Issue Name:
- January-February 2018
- Date Issued:
- 2018-01-01
- year:
- 2018
- Season:
- Winter
- PDF filename:
- NL_96.01_2018_Jan_Feb_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 096
- issue:
- 01
- number:
- 096.01
- Decade:
- 2010s
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Extracted Text:
-
Publis hed by
y 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
January-February 2018
A herd of mule deer does stands on a Cherry County hillside at sunrise.
Photo by Eric Fowler.
IIn
n this
this issue
issu
ue
N EBRASKAland
2 0 1 7 Pho t o Con t e s t
NebraskalandMagazine.com
$4.95
PLUS
Nebraska’s Outdoor Venture Parks
Frost, Flakes and Flurries ● The Extra Mile
My Favorite Knives ● Travel to Ainsworth ● Time Well Spent
NEBRASKAland Magazine
Volume 96
●
No. 1
●
January-February 2018
F EAT U R ES . . .
24 Frost, Flakes and Flurries
\
PHOTOS AND STORY BY JUSTIN HAAG
32 Time Well Spent
What to Do in January-February
BY RENAE BLUM
34 Nebraska's Outdoor
Venture Parks
BY JEFF KURRUS
48 The Extra Mile
STORY AND PHOTOS BY ERIC FOWLER
52 2017 NEBRASKAland Photo Contest
PHOTOS BY NEBRASKALAND MAGAZINE READERS
52
●
I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E ...
From Our Readers...........................................4
Mixed Bag – A Mammal Brief of Coyotes, Travel to
Ainsworth, A Brief History of Buffalo Bill for Senate in
1872, Bigger Hooks, Ice Auger Choices, Winter Fun –
Snow or No Snow, Upcoming Events, and more ............... 8
Junior Journal – Winter Tidbits ................................. 68
Wilderness Workshop – My Favorite Knives ........ 70
Portraits from the Past – Readers' Photos ............. 72
In the Kitchen – Baked Rigatoni with Turkey
Meatballs .......................................................................... 74
The Last Stop – Standing On Ice.............................. 78
32
●
24
●
Cover: This image was taken after an ice storm in Hall County.
Photo by Rick Rasmussen.
NEBRASKAland (VOL. 96 / NO. 1 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 • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
34
●
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 3
Denise Wiese of Doniphan was fortunate to watch and photograph this
whooping crane for over an hour near her hometown.
Mike Benkis of Omaha shared this photo of a snowy
owl in La Platte.
Joel Jones of Lincoln, formerly of Halifax, England, captured this striking view of our Nebraska state capitol building in a photo he
calls "Pentagonal Obelisk."
Get Your Photos Featured
in an upcoming print edition of
NEBRASKAland Magazine, on our website,
or social media
How to have your photo considered:
• Follow @NEBRASKAland on Instagram
• Tag us in the photos you think we should
feature
• Check your messages
That's it! We'll go through the entries monthly and
notify you if your photo is selected.
"The summer sun playing peek-a-boo at Wildwood Lake" in southeastern Nebraska was submitted by Kari Pagles of Lincoln.
4 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
•
NEBRASKAland Visitor
The December 2017 NEBRASKAland
Visitor is a mammoth giant water bug
(Lethocerus americanus) on page 33.
They are found in muddy wetlands,
streams and lakes. Unsuspecting
swimmers sometimes are bitten on
their toes, thus their “toe-pincher"
nickname.
They feed on small fish, frogs and
sometimes snakes.
Wayne Cross
Madison, Nebraska
I believe this month’s visitor is on
page 33 and is a giant water bug.
We love your magazine. Your
pictures are always beautiful! It shows
off our wonderful state.
I send a gift subscription to a
friend in Utah, who is a retired game
warden, and he is thrilled to read
NEBRASKAland!
Marlene Albin
Guide Rock, Nebraska
The visitor for the December 2017
NEBRASKAland is on page 33. True
to size on page 33, it is a giant water
bug. I also read that it is nicknamed the
“Toe-biter!”
Carol Shafer
York, Nebraska
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
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
NEBRASKAland Magazine Copyright 2018, all rights reserved.
NEBRASKAland is available in audio from the Nebraska Library
Commission Talking Book and Braille Service, Suite 120, 1200 N St.,
Lincoln, NE 68508. 800-742-7691. NEBRASKAland Magazine and the
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reserve the right to reject any
advertising not in keeping with the agency mission.
Rates: $18 for one year; $33 for two years; $44 for three years. Nebraska
recipients must add appropriate sales tax. To subscribe call
1-800-NEBLAND (632-5263), or go online to: NebraskalandMagazine.
com.
COMMISSION
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OM
MMIS
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SSIO
S N OFFICES
OFFI
FF CES
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Correction: In the November, 2017
issue, it was stated the state champion
bur oak tree was in Peru County.
There is no county with that name,
only a town. We regret the error.
–Editor
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.
Joel Jones calls this image "Nebraska State Capitol Rotunda," which is a composite of 20 images layered into a vertorama to
capture the "amazing workmanship of this building."
6 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
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.)
402-649-6138
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
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 7
A Mammal
Brief
By Lindsay Rogers
Smaller than a wolf, but larger than a
red fox, the coyote is easily identified by its
size. Like the wolf, its coloration can vary
greatly from cream or tan to dark brown and
deep gray. Coyotes are extremely adaptable and
can be found across Nebraska in a variety of
habitats, including farmland, forest, prairie,
wetland and suburban areas. They are extremely
vocal and are often heard rather than seen; their
three main vocalizations are the squeak, distress
and howl. At dusk and into the evening, they
can be heard howling in groups forming a canine
chorus.
Although often assumed to be true carnivores,
coyotes are actually omnivores. The majority of their
diet consists of small mammals including rabbits,
ground squirrels and mice, but they will also consume
berries, fruit and leaves. Coyotes can take deer, but doing
so often requires teamwork from multiple individuals. ■
Lindsay Rogers is an outdoor education specialist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
8 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 9
Travelogue
Travelogue Sponsor
●
Ainsworth
Visit Ainsworth
By Brenna McFadden, Nebraska Tourism Commission
A
While in town you can spend time
in the historic downtown area perusing
some of the local restaurants, shops
and stores. One of the locals’ favorite
stores, Ranch-Land Western, has been
in business for nearly 60 years serving
the community's visitors. This store
provides high-quality western wear
and goods ranging from clothes for
men, women and children to handmade
saddles and unique home furnishings.
To continue your search for home
décor, you can find eclectic options at
Silver Linings, which also serves as a
floral shop.
After you have explored Ainsworth,
you will most definitely have built
up an appetite, and what better way
to treat yourself than by eating local?
Local House 20 has a great menu with
something for everyone, including
steak and other Nebraska staples, and
don’t forget to finish off your meal
with some of their legendary bread
pudding.
So, pack up the car and prepare for
a weekend full of fun in Ainsworth.
But don't plan on coming and going
too quickly – you might just find this
beautiful Sandhills area hard to leave.
■
While in the Area
Other places to stay, eat at and visit
in the Ainsworth area:
Yellowthroat Wildlife Management
Area
Sellors Barton Museum
D and B Café
Big John’s Restaurant
Book Peddler Books and Gifts
PHOTO BY JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
insworth is known throughout
the state for their Sandhills
hospitality, and with so many
reasons to visit it is easy to see
why. This small town offers a
variety of activities from enjoying time
outdoors to spending time shopping
downtown.
Spend a weekend at the Roadway Inn
and plan out some time in nature at the
Keller Park State Recreation Area. This
wide expanse of 196 acres is found just
northeast of Ainsworth and includes
Bone Creek, one of the few spots
anglers can pursue both rainbow trout
and warmwater species.
Activities to get the whole family
involved include camping, hiking,
wildlife viewing and picnicking. As
you are exploring the beauty of the
Sandhills, look for the rustic footbridge
across Bone Creek; it is sure to add
some charm to the view.
Albert Allen of Ainsworth kayak fishes at Tower Lake at the Yellowthroat Wildlife Management Area in Brown County.
10 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 11
A Brief History
Nebraska Senator
Buffalo Bill Cody?
By the Nebraska State Historical Society
A
s Nebraska’s state senators return to the Unicameral
for this year’s legislative session, it’s a good time to
think about the state senator that Nebraska almost
elected in 1872: William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody.
Most Nebraskans know that the famous Army scout and
Western showman served at Fort McPherson and had a home
and ranch in North Platte – today’s Buffalo Bill Ranch State
Historical Park. In 1872 some of his friends decided that
his name recognition would make him a strong political
candidate. They secured for him the Democratic nomination
for the 26th District seat in the Nebraska Senate. The district
included the counties of Buffalo, Cheyenne, Dawson,
Franklin, Harlan, Kearney and Lincoln, as well as some
unorganized territory.
As a Democrat, Cody had little hope of being elected
from the predominately Republican district. And he wasn’t
the most enthusiastic candidate. He later wrote in his
autobiography, “I cared very little about it, and therefore
William “Buffalo Bill” Cody as an Army scout, circa 1870.
NSHS RG3004-6
made no effort whatever to secure my election.”
But the Cody name proved a powerful draw. The returns
filed with the Board of Canvassers located in Lincoln County
gave Cody a narrow but surprising victory over his opponent,
D. T. Ashburn of Gibbon. Cody won by just 44 votes.
One of the oddities of Nebraska geography is that the
city of Lincoln is not in Lincoln County. North Platte is in
Lincoln County. As it turned out, confusion on this point
made a difference in the election.
Ashburn supporters immediately contested the results,
charging that the returns were incomplete. An investigation
revealed that the county clerk of Harlan County had
mistakenly sent his returns not to Lincoln County, but to the
city of Lincoln. These additional votes gave Ashburn the
majority.
“Senator” Cody never appeared at the Capitol to claim
his seat. When the legislature convened, it awarded Ashburn
the seat. By that time, Buffalo Bill was already in New York
opening his first stage production. Cody’s eventual success
in show business no doubt amply compensated him for his
“failure” in politics. ■
Visit the Nebraska State Historical Society’s website at
nebraskahistory.org.
Opposite: Cody with the famous Lakota chief Sitting Bull,
circa 1880. NSHS RG3004-23-45068
12 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
14 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 15
Ice Augers - Which Type is the Best Fit for You?
By Julie Geiser
here are many styles, prices and brand names of
augers on the market. You really can’t buy a bad auger
nowadays, but you can buy one that fits your fishing
style and budget.
T
Hand Augers
Many ice anglers have started their
hard-water fishing ventures with
a hand auger. With their simple
design, low cost (under $75) and
light weight, some anglers still
prefer hand augers over their more
expensive power counterparts. Hand
augers are good to use in remote areas
where added weight and space is not
an option. For those fishing for smaller
species (that don’t require a hole larger
than six inches to pull fish through) and
for anglers who only hit the ice a few
times a season (and don’t want to pay
three times as much for a power auger),
the hand auger might be a good fit.
Gas Powered
Two-stroke gas
as
augers have been
en
around for
decades and
provide
anglers an
easy, quick
way to drill
holes for ice-fishing.
hing.
Many of these gas and
oil mix machines
es have
been replaced byy the fourhat doesn’t
stroke engine that
have as much maintenance,
starting issues or smoke as
the two-stroke. The cost for
these models, however,
owever, can
stretch a budgett running
from $300 to more than
$600. Gas augers
rs do
require carryingg small gas
cans, repair tools
ls and are
sometimes hardd to start. Gas
lines can even freeze up in
extremely cold conditions.
But for those who don’t want
to spend more on electric types
and want to power through several inches of
ice with eight- to 12-inch holes, this could be the choice for
16 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
you. Gas augers last for years and many of the blades can be
sharpened or replaced as the unit ages.
Propane augers have become popular the last few years
and are easy to clean, have a lot of power with up to 40CC,
four-stroke engines and are quieter than gas/oil mix engines.
A one-pound tank of propane usually drills about 100 holes
before needing to be replaced. They are similar to electric
augers in that they are lightweight and function much like an
electric version. Propane augers cost less than electric but do
require a few pulls to get running.
Electric
Electric augers run off
batteries and normally
mally don’t
have starting issues
es like
gas augers
can. But
they must be
charged fully
before heading
out on the ice; the good news
is many can be charged
arged in a 110
volt outlet or vehicle
cle adaptor.
Having a couple extra charged
bbatteries is also a good idea, and
sstoring the batteryy in a warm
hhut or in a pocket on extremely
ccold days will ensure
ure that it
w
will start. Lithium
m ion batteries
llast a long time, drilling
rilling around
330 holes on a single
gle battery
ccharge. There are no fumes from
eelectric augers, and
nd even though
tthey run a bit slower
wer than gas
oor propane versions,
ns, they have
a tough eight-inchh hole cutting
ppower to get through
ugh up to 46
iinches with some brands. These
options
llightweight but pricey
i
ti
aare great for those wanting the
eease of a power auger.
Summary
S
Most of these augers last for years and blades on each unit
ccan be sharpened if you know what you’re doing. Replacing
tthe blades is simple as well. Extensions are also available for
m
many auger shafts if you will be fishing in areas that require
a deeper cut.
Depending on the weight, price, area you’ll be fishing,
nnoise level and ease of use, the choice is yours as to which
auger model is right for you. There are many brand names
on the market, but all will work about the same to cut
through the ice. ■
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 17
Hooks For Bigger Fish
By Larry Kurrus
18 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
PHOTOS BY JEFF KURRUS
For you wintertime fly-tyers out there: Are some of your
panfish hooks bending on larger fish? There may be a way to
prevent that from happening. Most fly hooks are more than
adequate for their intended purpose, but what if that Master
Angler fish decides to take your bug? It’s usually a hard pull
at first, maybe a jump or two, and then that hard run that
ends in a lost fish, disappointment and a bent hook.
An answer to this problem could come from hook
manufacturer Eagle Claw. They offer a No. 8 and No. 6 hook
for panfish that have a bit more bulk, are stout enough for
larger fish and
make some
really nice
looking flies.
There is a
slight downside
to these hooks,
but one that
is easy to
negotiate. The
hooks have to
be adjusted
slightly from
Before using the suggested panfish hooks, bend the
their original
point of the hook so it is parallel with the shank.
A sturdier hook when fly-fishing can sometimes be the difference between
landing a big fish or not, including a grass carp on a mulberry imitation.
design. If you look at the hooks, they are turned where the
shank meets the hook end, and the point is bent in slightly
(photo left, top).
Place the hook in your fly-tying vise and gently bend
the hook end until it is straight with the shank. Then bend
the point of the hook out until it is parallel with the shank
or maybe even a bit more (photo left, bottom). This small
alteration will keep more fish hooked.
Now you are ready to land that next Master Angler. ■
Winter Fun – With or Without Snow
By Julie Geiser
W
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
hen there is snow on the ground, many of us
get out and enjoy snowy day activities such as
sledding, snowball fights and building snowmen
and snow forts. Many areas across the state may be without
the white stuff this winter, but there are plenty of great
outdoor activities to do – just be creative.
Geocaching
Geocaching can be done year-round; it is fun to hunt
for caches and a great way to spend time outdoors even if
there’s no snow on the ground. You’ll need a GPS unit or
a smart phone to get started. To find cache locations visit
geocaching.com, create an account and search for the caches
hidden in your area. Caches can be close to home, or pack a
sack lunch and sodas for a day of adventure. Caches can be
found across the state.
Many of our state recreation areas and state parks have
caches, which is a two-for-one deal: you can enjoy a day
at a state area while you cache. All caches should contain
a logbook or paper scroll to sign when you find it; some
caches contain small treasures for the taking as long as you
leave a treasure for the next cacher.
Wildlife Watching
Even if you can’t track animal prints in the snow, you
can still enjoy observing tracks and compare them to those
in track books to see which animal made them. Wildlife
management areas, lakes, state parks and state recreation
areas are great places to view wildlife.
To increase your chances of seeing wildlife, consider
these tips: look for out-of-place shapes and movements;
look above and below you; be as quiet as possible and use
binoculars. Set up a pop-up blind and make a game out of
wildlife viewing. Kids love making games out of finding
animals. Keep in mind that dusk and dawn are usually prime
times for wildlife watching, and many birds will be out and
about for viewing and photographing.
Visit State Parks
There is no better time to spend a weekend at a state park.
Winter is a slower season at state parks so securing a cabin
reservation or a spot for your camper or tent is much easier.
Even in winter there are plenty of fun things to do such
as fishing, hiking, birdwatching and photography – or just
enjoying a quiet weekend away.
Have a winter picnic at a state or local park or state
recreation area. If fire pits are available, warm your fingers
and toes by the fire as you cook hotdogs and s'mores.
Backyard Campfires
Put your hat, coat and warm clothes on and gather around
20 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
Looking for geocaches can be done year-round.
the campfire. With backyard fire pits, anyone can enjoy
sitting around the fire any time of the year.
This can be a fun way to spend an afternoon or evening.
It’s an ideal location to sit and watch the flames, read a book
or enjoy some hot chocolate and family time.
Grab the s'mores supplies and make yourselves a treat,
snuggle up in a blanket on your outdoor swing and enjoy
the night sky with all the stars and moon. It just doesn’t get
much better than that.
Bird Feeding
With the winter months upon us, birds have a difficult time
finding food and water. Below is a homemade treat for birds
that kids and adults can both have fun making and watching
birds eat.
Wild Birdseed Cookies
flour
• 2½cups
teaspoon
• powder of baking
of sugar
• ½¾ cup
• cup vegetable shortening
• 2¾eggs
cup birdseed of choice
• 3 egg
• Cookiewhites
cutters
• Yarn to hang
cookies
•
Sift all the dry ingredients together and cut in the lard with
a blunt knife. Add the eggs. Add the birdseed and knead
until smooth. Allow the dough to chill overnight. Roll out
the dough to ¼-inch thickness and cut into shapes with
cookie cutters. Insert a paper clip into the top of the shape
to act as a hanger. Brush the cookie with beaten egg whites
and press birdseed into the top of the cookie. Bake on an
ungreased cookie sheet at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 10-15
minutes or until the cookies are hard. String yarn through the
paper clip to make a hanger and hang outside.
Don’t forget to water the birds this winter; they rely on
water to drink and to bathe even during the winter months.
Watching birds come to a feeder or watering area can be
exciting. Keep a journal of the birds that come to your
feeder. Draw or take photos of them and compare them to
those in a birding book to determine which birds have visited
your backyard at that time of the year. ■
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 21
Visitors gather for a hayrack ride at
Ponca State Park's Winterfest.
Ice Fishing to Bring List
NEBRASKAland
Alan
nd
Visitor
By Julie Geiser
When heading out on frozen lakes or ponds to ice fish, you won't want to leave
home without these important items.
and ice fishing rods/reels
• Tip-ups
shelter (anything to keep out of the wind)
• Ice
heater for cold days
• Propane
Spud
bar
• Ice auger (for checking ice thickness)
• Sled to carry auger and supplies
• Five-gallon bucket to carry lures, jigs and bait, extra line, hook sharpener,
• bobbers, split shot, needle-nose pliers for hook removal and line cutting, hand
by Jerry Kane
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.
Ponca State Park (SP), Ponca; Platte River
SP, Louisville; Chadron SP, Chadron;
Indian Cave SP, Shubert; Eugene T.
Mahoney SP, Ashland; Fremont Lakes
State Recreation Area (SRA), Fremont;
Wildcat Hills SRA, Gering; Ash Hollow
State Historical Park (SHP), Lewellen; Fort
Kearny SRA, Kearney
January 2
Super Tag and Combo
Application period begins for Super Tag
and Combo multispecies lottery permits
January 4
Growing Up WILD Workshop Lincoln
January 4
Big Game Informational Meeting
Geneva
January 6-7
Family Ice Fishing Clinic
Kearney
January 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
Winter Fun Exhibit
Arbor Lodge SHP, Nebraska City
January 7
Shootout at Salt Creek
Nebraska Game and Parks Outdoor
Education Center, Lincoln
January 7
Duck and Coot Hunting
Duck and coot hunting seasons close in
Zone 3, Low Plains and High Plains Units
January 8
Spring Turkey Hunting
January 11
Big Game Informational Meeting
Lainey Sheffield enjoys a sled ride in the
winter outdoors.
warmers, ice cleats, flashlight and matches or lighter
bucket to sit on
• Five-gallon
Phone
• GPS or fish locator
• Ice picks (to pull yourself out if you fall through)
• Compass
• Ice scoop for removing slush from holes
• Fishing license
• 50 feet of rope and life vests for safety
•
Broken Bow
January 11
Big Game Informational Meeting
January 30
Prescribed Burn Training Workshop
Lincoln
Norfolk
January 13
Cold Day, Warm Hearts
January 31
Prescribed Burn Training Workshop
Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland
Lincoln
January 15
Deer Hunting
January 31
Hunting Seasons
Deer hunting seasons close for Youth,
Landowner, Season Choice and River
Antlerless, and Gifford Point WMA deer
hunting seasons close
Hunting seasons close for November late
doe/fawn antelope, fall turkey, pheasant,
quail, partridge, grouse and squirrel
January 16
Prescribed Burn Training Workshop
Scottsbluff
January 17
Prescribed Burn Training Workshop
Alliance
January 19
Dark Goose Hunting
Dark goose hunting season closes in
North Central Unit
January 19
Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission meeting
Eugene T. Mahoney SP
January 20
Ice Bowl Disc Golf Tournament
February 3
Birds and Binoculars
Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland
February 3-11
White-fronted Goose
White-fronted goose hunting season
February 7
Prescribed Burn Training Workshop
Broken Bow
February 10
Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever State Habitat Meeting,
Kearney
February 11
Dark Goose Hunting
Dark goose hunting season closes in East,
Platte River, Panhandle and Niobrara units
Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland
February 11-15
Valentine’s Day Special
First day of spring turkey hunting permit
sales
January 20
Eugene T. Mahoney SP, Ashland
Crow Hunting
January 8-28
Duck and Coot Hunting
Crow hunting season opens statewide
February 12
Light Goose
January 20
Duck and coot hunting seasons in Zones 2 Family Ice Fishing Clinic
and 3, High Plains Unit
Lake Wanahoo SRA, Wahoo
January 9
Big Game Informational Meeting
January 24
Prescribed Burn Training Workshop
Imperial
McCook
January 9
Big Game Informational Meeting
January 24-February 11
Light Goose Hunting
West Point
Light goose hunting season
January 10
Big Game Informational Meeting
January 30
Prescribed Burn Training Workshop
Fullerton
Grand Island
22 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
If you take your kids with you, also consider bringing snacks, extra clothing and
gloves, tissues or a hanky, and extra sleds or ice skates to play with. Don’t forget
to protect everyone’s eyes with sunglasses, as the sun and wind can burn them.
Sunscreen and lip protection is a good idea to bring along as well.
Lastly, no outing is complete without water to drink, some sandwiches or even
soup, which is easily warmed on a cooker/heater or brought inside a thermos. ■
Light Goose Conservation Order hunting
begins
February 14
Valentine's Day Dining
Platte River SP, Louisville
February 28
Hunting and Trapping
Bobcat, raccoon, Virginia opossum, longtailed weasel, mink, red fox, gray fox and
badger hunting and trapping seasons
close
PHOTO BY JULIE GEISER
January 1
First Day Hike
Even in a one-person ice shelter, there is room for essential ice-fishing items that
you should never leave home without.
Last issue’s winner of
the Visitor drawing was
Geniece Helmick of Broken
Bow, Nebraska, who found the
giant water bug on page 33.
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, 23, 55, 56 or 68.
The giant water bug (Lethocerus
americanus) is native to North
America and can be found in
Nebraska. Adults are tan to
brown, with a flat, oval-shaped
body, growing up to four inches
in length. As their name suggests,
these insects are aquatic,, ffound in
ponds and streams. But they are
also good flyers and aree often seen
on sidewalks and around
nd lights.
Giant water bugs are
ding
ferocious predators, feeding
on other insects, small fish
and even frogs. They grab
rab
prey with their front legs
gs and,
using their beak-like mouthpart,
outhpart,
inject a powerful toxin into their
prey. The toxin will paralyze
alyze the
prey and dissolve its internal
ernal
tissue, which the giant
water bug will suck out.
Giant water bugs are known
nown
wn tto
o
occasionally nibble on toes
dangling in the water. While their
bite is usually harmless to humans,
it can be painful, earning the
insect its other common
name – toe-biter.
Special thanks to Julie Van Meter,
State Entomologist, Nebraska
Department of Agriculture.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 23
FROST,
FLAKES AND
FLURRIES
Photos and story by Justin Haag
Propelled by the unrelenting wind at the end of another day, snow sprints
across the blanketed plains of western Nebraska.
24 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2086
As winter grips the region, it is sometimes hard
to recognize the beauty it brings. Residents of the
northern Great Plains may groan at the thought of
handling the snow shovel or ice scraper once more,
but there is no denying that our winter landscape
looks a little better when dressed in some solidified
precipitation.
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 25
Similar to the work of a skilled
artist, winter’s snow and ice brings
fresh perspective to familiar scenes.
Far left: Frost puts a new edge on the needle-like leaves of a
soapweed.
Above: In a spectacle fit for a snow globe, a flock of wild turkeys
forages among the challenges of the season.
Lower right: With sub-zero temperatures, frost crawls its
way over the top of a shallow stream at Ponderosa Wildlife
Management Area.
26 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 27
Fleeting sunlight, which
comes at a premium
on these shortest days
of the year, adds to the
magic.
Above: Clouds do their best to hide the
sun behind snow-coated pines at Chadron
State Park.
Far right: The evening sun illuminates
icicles, formed after an afternoon of
temperatures just above freezing.
Bottom left: Morning sunlight highlights
snow kicked up by the thundering hooves
of speedy pronghorn.
28 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 29
In ways both literal and figurative,
winter can be confining to the body
and spirit. To a similar degree,
this magical time of year arouses
the senses and delivers beauty in
heaps to those willing to brave the
elements. May you find freedom in
nature’s artistry. ■
Top left: A thin layer of ice traps
air bubbles along the banks of
the White River at Fort Robinson
State Park.
Bottom left: A heavy coat of
hoarfrost envelops hardwoods
and pines along White Clay
Creek.
Top right: Mule deer use their
hooves to eke out a winter day’s
nourishment.
30 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
Justin works and lives in
northwestern Nebraska. He
has been a regional editor of
NEBRASKAland Magazine for
5 years. He lives with his wife,
Cricket, and children, Sawyer and
Kiera (whom you probably have
seen pictures of in the magazine).
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 31
Time Well Spent
What to Do in January and February
By Renae Blum
I
t’s the start of a new year – what surprises could your outdoor adventures hold in
2018? They can begin right now with some suggestions below. For more information on
outdoor events across the state, visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov. ■
PHOTO BY CHRIS MASADA
See Bald Eagles at
the Lake Ogallala
Eagle Viewing
Center
Weekends from 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Viewing
Lake Ogallala
Mid-February
PHOTO BY BOB GRIER
Eagles can be seen year-round across the
state, but winter and early spring are the best
times to see large numbers of eagles. A great
place to go right now is the Lake Ogallala
Eagle Viewing Center located below Kingsley
Dam. The center is open for eagle viewing on
weekends in January and February from 8 a.m.2 p.m. Stop by at 9 a.m. or 12 p.m. to see a fun
presentation by the park naturalist.
Central Nebraska
If you’ve seen it once, you’ll never forget it – and will probably never
regret seeing it again. As Sandhill cranes begin migrating through
Nebraska in mid-February, pick a place for viewing. Popular sites include
Fort Kearny State Historical Park and State Recreation Area, the Crane
Trust Nature and Visitor Center near Alda, and the Iain Nicolson Audubon
Center at Rowe Sanctuary near Gibbon.
Look for Shed Antlers
After hunting season
Statewide
Get in Shape
for Hunting and
Fishing in 2018
Anytime
Statewide
Ice Skating at Mahoney State Park
PHOTO BY DOUG CARROLL
32 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
PHOTO BY ALEXANDER CHERNYAKOV
Start taking steps now to have a better
hunting and fishing experience this year
with diet, exercise and good sleep. Your
body will thank you during those long,
early morning walks.
PHOTO BY JEFF KURRUS
Shed hunting, which some think of as a large-scale
Easter egg hunt, sharpens your observational
skills. Seek areas where deer concentrate to bed
and feed, and places where they have to jump,
such as a fence, creek or ditch. Seek permission
from landowners where necessary.
Until mid-March – call ahead for ice conditions
Activity Center and Outdoor Ice Skating Pavilion
Ice skating is an activity for all ages. It makes for a great date night, a fun
family workout or just a memorable afternoon. Give it a try this month!
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 33
CLIMBING WALLS
like this one will
be featured at
Eugene T. Mahoney
State Park's Family
Activity Center.
NEBRASKA'S OUTDOOR
VENTURE PARKS
CREATING A NEW LEGACY
By Jeff Kurrus
34 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
WHAT DO WE WANT TO BECOME?
R
opes courses and water
playgrounds … stateof-the-art aquariums
and touch tanks …
these are just a few of the exciting
attractions coming soon as part
of the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission’s Venture Parks
complex. Yet excitement isn’t the
Commission’s only goal.
he Venture Parks concept began in 2014 when
Douglas asked a small group of his staff a
question: “Who are we and what do we want to
become?”
T
After the opening of Platte River
State Park’s Crawdad Creek in the
fall of 2016, Owen Roberts-Day
visited with his daughter, Hattie.
Owen watched his daughter
SPLASH PAD concept rendering for Platte River State Park.
happily playing in the water, where
But Crawdad Creek, with its picturesque pools that
children are encouraged to get wet
invite park guests to get wet, is new territory. It
and learn about the creek’s resident fish and frogs.
was the very first feature to be completed as part
She repeatedly pulled the trigger on her water
of the Venture Parks complex, which aims to meet
pistol, shooting water into the creek.
the needs of a new generation of park visitors
“As a teacher, I know many families who can’t
who expect more activities and amenities. Venture
afford to go on lavish vacations, but can afford the
Parks will bring innovative, educational, exciting
$6 it takes to get a carload of people into one of
and often unexpected features including a treetops
our state parks for a day,” said Roberts-Day, who
ropes course, a climbing wall, glamping cabins and
frequently visits Nebraska’s state parks with his
much more to four southeastern Nebraska parks –
family. “Plus, it’s right here in our own backyard.”
Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, Platte River State
Since 1921 when Nebraska’s first state park opened Park, Schramm Park State Recreation Area and
near Chadron, Nebraska’s state parks and recreation Louisville State Recreation Area.
areas have provided families and individuals the
chance to hike, fish, camp and enjoy Nebraska’s
great outdoors. Over the years, as park visitors’
tastes have evolved, Nebraska’s state park system
has responded by offering larger and more modern
lodging, more electrical sites, and wheelchairaccessible fishing piers, among other features.
“We wanted to look at our parks differently – to
use them differently – to introduce people to a safe
environment where they could experience nature,”
said Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Director Jim Douglas.
Crawdad Creek is just the start.
"The most exciting parts for me about the Venture Parks complex
is meeting the needs and wishes of the next generation of
parkgoers in a way that leads to a greater appreciation for the
outdoors, and watching the combined enthusiasm of all the people
that are making this happen."
— Jim Douglas, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director
NEBRASKAland Magazine • VENTURE PARKS
For years the state’s 77 parks and recreation
areas had offered various activities: horseback
riding, swimming, fishing, wildlife viewing and
kayaking among others. But the group knew they
would need to add
exciting, family-friendly
attractions to continue
to draw visitors.
“Because of the
changing demographics
and social norms of
people in Nebraska and
beyond, we decided
that some portion of
our state park system
needed to be more
than a walk in the park,”
said Douglas. The group
knew that different
people sought different
experiences from the
outdoors. Some wanted
excitement, while
others a spot where
they could spend a
tranquil afternoon.
Douglas and his colleagues began to discuss what
a new type of state park system might look like.
“It was a small group of us in an outdoor setting,”
Commission Division Administrator for Parks Jim
Swenson remembered, “and we started to ask
each other questions: What made you want to
come and work for the Nebraska Game and Parks?
What caused you to love the outdoors? How do we
capture these ideas and invigorate visitors to have
those same outdoor desires?”
his team honed in on the logistics of overhauling
these very popular parks. They hired a consultant
who advised them how much visitation would have
to grow and how much they would have to charge
for new attractions to ensure the project would be
financially self-supporting. They decided to divide the
project into four phases, adding new features and
activities over the course of several years.
They then embarked
on an aggressive
fundraising campaign
to raise the estimated
$35 million the new
attractions are projected
to cost. The first people
they approached was
the Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission's
Board, whose
immediate excitement
for the project led the
group to the Nebraska
Game and Parks
Foundation, which has a
mission of stewardship
for Nebraska’s outdoor
and recreation
resources. Dick Bell,
the Commission
Chairman and
Foundation member,
was key to what has
been a successful fundraising effort. “Thanks to
our innovative public-private partnership and many
generous donors, the Venture Parks complex is
becoming a reality,” said Bell.
Those conversations sparked plans and fundraising
efforts to create new amenities at these four parks.
The Nebraska Legislature in 2015 approved the
estimated $35 million project and authorized $7.3
million of Commission cash funds to be used for
the project. Together with the Foundation, the
Commission approached private donors with the
goal of raising nearly $28 million of the $35 million
needed for the project.
As the projects began to take shape, Douglas and
In 2016, ground broke on the Venture Parks complex.
VENTURE PARKS • NEBRASKAland Magazine
AKSARBEN AQUARIUM
AN EXCITING “EDVENTURE"
A
ksarben Aquarium has, since 1979, been a
place for school-age children in the Omaha
and Lincoln areas to come in contact with nature.
However, with education displays dating back to its
opening, it is time for a learning upgrade.
The Aquarium’s
new Interactive
Exploration Center
will focus on the
state of Nebraska’s
most valuable
resource – water.
The new-andimproved aquarium
will feature tanks
triple the size of
the old ones, and
will house entire
ecosystems.
Visitors will be able
to see how coolwater streams flow into rivers and
finally into reservoirs. A farm pond ecosystem will
be featured in its own tank, as will small species
such as stonerollers and daces that people don’t
often see.
Finally, visitors will have the opportunity to touch
live fish in the shovelnose sturgeon touch tank.
play on a 12-feet-tall bur oak tree slide, crawl across
balance beams, and ride a stationary bike that, with the
help of 55-inch TV screens, simulates mountain biking
the trails at nearby Platte River State Park. For visitors
who want to spend their day outside, improved Platte
River access will make it easier to canoe and kayak.
At Aksarben, adaptability will take center stage. “When
you go into most museums, their displays are 80
percent permanent and 20 percent changeable,” said
Outdoor Education Specialist Lindsay Rogers, “but
we wanted to design something that featured the
opposite. We want people to understand that nature
isn’t stagnant, so their nature center shouldn’t be
stagnant either.”
For Swenson, this project is personal. As a child,
he often tagged along with his dad and grandpa
when they were
spending time
outdoors, which
inspired his career
in conservation
more than anything
he learned at
school. “At the
aquarium kids
can learn and not
even know they’re
learning,” he said.
“You can teach kids
in the classroom,
but you also have
to let them touch it
and smell it for these kids to fully appreciate what
they’re looking at.”
The nature center will also feature live animals –
including snakes, turtles, and frogs – and young
visitors and students will have the opportunity to
Why the Platte River Parklands?
The Platte River Parklands have received
a large amount of focus due to these
Venture Park upgrades, and for good
reason considering 1.5 million people live
within an hour of these locations. However,
multiple projects have also been recently
conducted throughout the state, including
the rebuilding of the Officer’s Quarters at
Fort Robinson State Park near Harrison
and the recently opened nature complex
NEBRASKAland Magazine • VENTURE PARKS
and shooting range at Wildcat Hills State
Recreation Area.
And these are just the start of ideas for
future state parks projects. Spend more than
a few minutes with Douglas, and his eyes
light up about the possibilities. “We have
project plans throughout the state,” said
Douglas, "but we need the funding to do
these.”
LOOKING TO GET AN IDEA of what
these projects will look like, artwork
was created (opposite and above)
of the Interactive Exploration Center
lobby and aquarium at
the Aksarben Aquarium where
children (right) will be able to get a
hands-on experience.
VENTURE PARKS • NEBRASKAland Magazine
PLATTE RIVER STATE PARK
FIND YOUR WILD SIDE
C
rawdad Creek features five shallow ponds
that empty into Jenny Newman Lake and
gives kids the opportunity to watch tadpoles,
dip their toes in the water and feel mud run
through their fingers.
By the time the summer of 2018 rolls around,
visitors to Platte River State Park, which
opened in 1982, will be able to take a walk
right up the hill from Crawdad Creek and
visit the park’s new two-tiered splash pad, a
replacement for the park’s pool.
Platte River State Park will also offer the state park
system’s first “glamping” opportunities. Glamping
is an up-scale camping option, also known as luxury
camping, and the park’s three glamping cabins will
feature queen-sized beds that can be rolled onto a deck
for people to sleep under the stars.
OLIVER HILBERT of Gretna (opposite,
top) plays in the water at Platte River
State Park's Crawdad Creek.
CRAWDAD CREEK (opposite, bottom)
flows into Jenny Newman Lake.
ARTWORK was created (above) to
show what one of Platte River State
Park's glamping cabins will look like.
THE POOL at Platte River State Park
will be replaced by a two-tiered splash
pad (right).
NEBRASKAland Magazine • VENTURE PARKS
VENTURE PARKS • NEBRASKAland Magazine
EUGENE T. MAHONEY STATE PARK
UNLEASH THE ADVENTURE
T
he Nebraska State Parks system
welcomes an estimated 12 million guests
per year, and Eugene T. Mahoney State Park
remains one of the top tourist attractions in
the state. The park’s Family Aquatic Center
alone hosts more than 100,000 visitors during
the three-month summer season. So it was
no surprise that Mahoney would become a
centerpiece in the Venture Parks complex.
Mahoney will feature a new tubing/sledding
run located on the hill east of the Family
Activity Center that will provide families fastpaced thrills that can be enjoyed throughout
the year – as Winter Wonderful during the
snowy months, including a snow-making
machine, and an Alpine Slide area in the spring
and summer months.
Just up the hill at the Family Activity
Center, a location that already features
an ice skating rink during the winter
months and an indoor playground all
year, a 40-foot indoor climbing wall will
be added. In addition, a treetop ropes
course will be constructed down the
road from the Center, and will feature
ziplines, rope swings and a suspended
walkway, as well as interactive
educational displays depicting the
native wildlife, plants and trees of
Nebraska.
ZIPLINES and a treetop ropes
course (opposite, top) will be
featured at Eugene T. Mahoney
State Park.
ARTWORK (opposite, bottom)
depicts the year-round tubing/
sledding run being constructed at
Mahoney.
NEBRASKAland Magazine • VENTURE PARKS
CONSTRUCTION (bottom) continues on an addition to the
Family Activity Center at Mahoney that will feature a 40-foot
rock wall (top).
VENTURE PARKS • NEBRASKAland Magazine
LOUISVILLE STATE RECREATION AREA
A NATURAL PLACE TO GET AWAY
ater adventure will be the headliner at
Louisville State Recreation Area. From
water rope swings to a 21,000- square-foot
floating playground, Louisville will become one
of the state’s most exciting camping and water
fun hotspots.
W
Visitors will be able to rent watercycles and
paddleboards, and access the Platte River from
a new airboat ramp and canoe/kayak landing
for float trips. “Water is a magnet for people,”
said Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Assistant Director Roger Kuhn, “so we want to
give easier access so it’s more inviting for users
to get on the Platte River.”
PARKGOERS can visit the new floating
playground (below, and opposite) at Louisville
State Recreation Area.
NEBRASKAland Magazine • VENTURE PARKS
WATERCYCLES (above) will be available at
Louisville State Recreation Area.
VENTURE PARKS • NEBRASKAland Magazine
FUTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Construction on these Phase I Venture Parks
projects is currently underway, and many of
these features will be open for use in 2018. Other
projects, including the ones below, will follow.
At Schramm Park State Recreation Area, a
treehouse classroom will overlook an interactive
stream and a rock-skipping station. Current hiking
trails will also be updated for mountain bike
use, and a Captn’
Jim’s Pirate Rafts
attraction, which is a
raft building activity,
will be located on
one of the existing
hatchery ponds.
Less than 15
minutes away, Platte
River State Park will
boast an obstacle
course, small zipline
and ropes course for
younger participants,
and improved river
access for canoes and
kayaks. Also, a natural playground and rock wall will
help visitors find their own wild side. Finally, visitors
will also have the opportunity to use 49 full-service
RV campground sites.
At nearby Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, a lazy river
attraction and zorbing will be created at the Family
Aquatic Center, a “Mudville” area will lure those not
shy of getting dirty, and an interactive trail system will
welcome hikers and bikers looking for excitement
while walking and riding through the park.
Down the road at Louisville State Recreation Area,
fishing enhancements, trail development and
interpretation, and a King of the Hill attraction will
welcome all ages.
Jim Abel, Chairman of the Nebraska Game and
Parks Foundation, believes the Venture Parks
initiative is an exciting project and is proud that
the Foundation’s efforts will benefit Nebraskans
and those visiting our state who are interested
in the outdoor experience. Abel, along with the
Foundation's Board of Directors, feels the varied
attractions at the four Venture Parks will encourage
people to visit each of
the parks.
“Given the proximity
of the four parks
to one another,
parkgoers will easily
be able to experience
each location’s
unique activities
and attractions,”
said Abel. “The
Foundation envisions
a new connection
and purpose for
visiting these four
parks located in the
Platte Valley. These newly developed features will
appeal to our existing park visitors and attract a
new generation of parkgoers. This will be a major
Nebraska tourist destination. The Nebraska Outdoor
Venture Parks will be something very special.”
These four Platte River parks will also answer the
questions from Douglas and his staff of “Who
are we and what do we want to become?” But
they will accomplish even more for Douglas. “The
most exciting parts for me about the Venture Parks
complex is meeting the needs and wishes of the
next generation of parkgoers in a way that leads to
a greater appreciation for the outdoors,” Douglas
said, “and watching the combined enthusiasm of all
the people that are making this happen.”
Nebraska's Outdoor Venture Parks was written by Jeff Kurrus, and printed in the January-February 2018 issue of
NEBRASKAland Magazine, published by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
NEBRASKAland Magazine • VENTURE PARKS
The Extra Mile
Story and Photos
by Eric Fowler
While photographing trumpeter swans last February at Calamus
Reservoir, I met a goose hunter who I just couldn’t seem to walk
away from.
48 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
S
ome people go to great lengths to hunt waterfowl.
While at Calamus Reservoir last February
photographing trumpeter swans, I ran into one of
those people.
It was late-morning when I bumped into him at a parking
lot on the wildlife management area at the west end of the
lake. We exchanged a few words as he unloaded two sleds
from his Jeep, loaded them with goose decoys and his
shotgun and donned his waders. As he headed south across
a pasture toward the Calamus River, sleds in tow, I headed
southwest up a big hill, hoping to get a view of the river and
any swans that might be on it.
I’d never been to this part of the area. What I found
was that hill gave me a sweeping view of the river and the
Tim Schuckman of Broken Bow pulls two sleds full of
goose decoys across a frozen backwater at the upper
end of Calamus Reservoir last February, heading toward
open water and a late-season hunt on the Calamus River
on the wildlife management area.
remains of what was an oxbow lake when the Calamus was
dammed in 1985. When full in the spring, the reservoir
reaches this far west. In the winter, it is a shallow, sprawling
river, minus the oxbow, which removed from flowing water,
was ice covered.
I watched from that hill as the man I’d seen in the parking
lot dragged his sleds 250 yards across the oxbow to the edge
of the ice and the river. One at a time, he pulled the decoy
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 49
Schuckman watches a distant flock of geese from his
blind, a weathered cottonwood stump in the middle of the
river.
Schuckman rearranges his spread, a mix of modern-day
commercial decoys and 50-year-old homemade fiberglass
models (left) made by his father, John.
sleds to the middle of the channel, put out his spread, and
stashed the sleds on the far bank. When he was done, he
settled in to his blind in the middle of the river: the stump
of a massive cottonwood tree that had been sawed off and
weathered by three decades of ice and rising and falling
water. This was not his first rodeo.
Not really having anything to do until evening, when I
planned on waiting for swans to return to roost on another
part of the reservoir, I decided I had to know this guy’s
50 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
story, and his name. So I returned to my truck, pulled on
my hip boots, grabbed my camera gear and headed his
way.
At the riverbank, I realized the water was deeper than
it looked from the hill, and chest waders would’ve been
a better choice. I introduced myself from afar, and the
gentleman graciously walked 40 yards from his stump
blind to the bank and did the same. When he said his name
was Tim Schuckman, it was a small-world moment. His
brother, Jeff, is a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
fisheries biologist in Norfolk. His late father, John, was a
conservation officer in northeastern Nebraska for 29 years.
It was also an “oh no” moment. I knew Tim’s mother had
passed a few days earlier. When I passed my condolences,
the 59-year-old said he had made the drive from Broken
Bow that morning to escape. I offered to leave. He said stay.
So I tucked myself away in a tangle of tree roots on the
bank, and watched.
There were plenty of geese on the reservoir and on the
river above Highway 96. A few flocks passed, and to each
Tim called on his flute. But this late in the season, which
would close in three days, fooling geese can be tough.
Between flocks, Tim and I chatted about all things hunting
and fishing. He proudly pointed to the fiberglass decoys that
made up half his spread, and the fact that they were made
by his father. Tim was the coverboy of the NEBRASKAland
Fishing special issue in 2001, a photo by long-time
magazine staffer Ken Bouc of him holding a big northern
pike, one of his favorite fish and mine, on a Sandhills lake.
So we traded pike stories.
Six hours after we bumped into each other in the parking
lot, and four after I’d pulled up a riverbank, I had to say
goodbye and move on to the real assignment. Tim stuck it
out to sunset. A few flocks of geese appeared to turn for a
look, but none did so much as set a wing. “There’s always
next year,” Tim would say later.
Still, his day was well spent. And so was mine. I have an
innate appreciation for hunters who go the extra mile, as I
often do myself. I just hope I can still do the same when I’m
Tim’s age. ■
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 51
2017 P ho t o
C o nt e s t
With 862 images submitted, the 2017
NEBRASKAland Magazine Photo Contest
featured another year of inspiring images in the
categories of Wildlife, Flora, Scenic, Recreation
and Youth, displaying the beauty of the entire
state.
Judged by NEBRASKAland Magazine’s
staff, paring down the images was difficult –
especially the Best of Show winner, which went
to Derrill E. Grabenstein and his image “Canoe
on Bluestem Lake.”
In addition, the Readers’ Choice Award went
to Samuel Raetz for his image, “A Blizzard
Duck Hunt Near North Platte.” This photograph
also won second place in the Recreation
category.
We thank everyone who has made this year’s
contest such a success, and we look forward
to seeing even more outstanding photographs
entered next year.
BEST OF SHOW
Canoe on Bluestem Lake
Photo by Derrill E. Grabenstein
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WILDLIFE
FIRST PLACE – Booming
Photo by Nikki McDonald
SECOND PLACE – Full Moon Lights the Way
Photo by Peter Carbonell
THIRD PLACE –
Alien Predator
Photo by
Brian Baer
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 55
FLORA
SECOND PLACE – Beauty in the Flowers
Photo by Suzie Wahlgren
FIRST PLACE – Ice Storm
Photo by Don Brockmeier
THIRD PLACE – Ice Storm
Photo by Maranda Miller
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SCENIC
FIRST PLACE – Pine Ridge Showers
Photo by Erik Johnson
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SCENIC
THIRD PLACE – Why the Niobrara is a National Scenic River
Photo by Peter Carbonell
SECOND PLACE – Winding Verdigre Creek
Photo by Ryan Lindbeck
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RECREATION
FIRST PLACE – Milky Way Photographers at Stagecoach
Photo by Brad Goetsch
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RECREATION
THIRD PLACE – Sandhills Decoys
Photo by Matt Zvolanek
SECOND PLACE – A Blizzard Duck Hunt Near North Platte
Photo by Samuel Raetz
Readers’ Choice Award Winner
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YOUTH
FIRST PLACE – Ethereal Dreams
Photo by Aaryan Naik
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from NEBRASKAland‛s Trail Tales magazine for kids
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My Favorite Knives
For in the field and kitchen.
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
F
ew things peeve me more than
dull knives. As someone who
spends a lot of time breaking
down game animals and cooking
them, having the right tools to
complete the job is critical; my food
is already dead, and the last thing I
want to do is fight with it again in the
kitchen.
So over the last few years, I’ve put
together a collection of knives that I
enjoy using most: knives that will take
me from field to table.
In the Field
For dressing out and quartering
animals in the field or in your garage,
the two knives I use are the Havalon
Piranta Edge and my husband’s trusty
110 Folding Hunter Buck knife, which
his father gave to him. The Buck knife
is hardwearing and will last a lifetime
if you take care of it. Stiff and robust,
the blade is tough enough to cut
through hide, cartilage and joints.
For more precise work, such as
caping/skinning, deboning and carving
out muscle groups, the Havalon Piranta
has been my go-to for many years.
Its replaceable, surgical blade cuts
through meat like butter. When deer is
hanging, you let gravity do most of the
work with this little knife. And its thin,
fine blade also makes easy work of
breaking down smaller game animals
such as quail, partridge, small ducks,
squirrels and rabbits. Havalon knives
come with a package of replacement
blades, allowing you to work with a
fresh blade every time.
Moderately priced, both knives retail
under $50.
For the Freezer
For cutting down muscle groups
into smaller pieces, such as steaks and
roasts, I suggest investing in a quality
boning knife. I have the Shun Classic
6-inch boning/fillet knife ($144), which
is not only beautiful but also highly
functional. With a little bit of practice,
its long, extremely sharp edge allows
me to precisely cut meat – both raw
and cooked – into uniform portions. Its
thin and semi-flexible point also makes
efficient work of removing silver skin. I
also recommend this Japanese knife for
breaking down game birds. In addition
to game, it’s the best Thanksgiving
turkey carving knife I’ve ever used.
Although Shun advertises this knife
as a fillet knife as well, I do prefer
something more flexible when skinning
and deboning fish. While I’m still
using a cheap Rapala Fish ‘n Fillet
knife ($29.99), which gets the job done
when properly sharpened and is a good
choice for throwing into your tackle
box, it doesn’t hold its edge long. I
have my sights on the Wüsthof Classic
Ikon fillet knife ($202), which felt great
in my hands at the store and comes
with a leather sheath.
Also, every kitchen needs a pair of
poultry shears for cutting off duck feet
and bird butts. I don’t remember where
I got mine or if they even have a brand,
but they are sturdy and have worked
fine all these years.
For the Table
In addition to my Shun Classic
boning/fillet knife, my other workhouse
in the kitchen is the Wüsthof Classic
Ikon 7-inch hollow-edge santoku knife
($169). I use this knife in 90 percent of
my cooking: chopping, slicing, mincing
and dicing. It has great balance and is
made of strong German steel, while
the Japanese-style blade offers fluid
rocking motion for quickly chopping
herbs. People with larger hands may
70 NEBRASKAland • JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018
prefer a classic chef’s knife, but as
a vertically challenged woman with
hands to match, I find better control in
the santoku.
While I’ve upgraded to more
expensive cutlery, I must not forget my
humble beginnings: I purchased the
J.A. Henckels International Fine Edge
Pro 2-piece santoku set for under $25
at Target while I was in college. These
7- and 5-inch knives have given me
many years of service and still do in a
more “retired” capacity, such as cutting
through the occasional stubborn squash
and accompanying me on camping
trips. Although they do require more
constant sharpening, as is expected of
knives in their price range, it was the
best $25 I’ve ever spent.
Knife Care
The more high-quality and sharper
the knife, the harder the steel and
ironically, the more prone it is to
chipping or breaking. While a cheap
knife from Walmart may not chip or
break under abuse – that is because it’s
made of a softer steel – the drawback is
that it will not hold a keen edge.
Take care of your investment by
using these specialty knives only
as intended, handwashing them
and drying immediately. Store your
expensive knives in a knife block or in
their respective sheaths, not jumbling
around in a drawer. Also use them over
quality wooden or plastic chopping
boards, which will extend the life of
your knives unlike hard glass or stone
surfaces. Use a honing steel to keep
your knives in tip-top shape throughout
the year, and when needed, sharpen
your knives with a good quality
sharpener. Retailers such as Sur La
Table and Williams-Sonoma also offer
professional knife sharpening services
for a fee. ■
JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2018 • NEBRASKAland 71
▲
As I was reading the other day, I noticed you’re
looking for photos for your “Portraits from the Past”
page. Well, I have several, since both sides of my
family go several generations back here in Nebraska.
The only problem is that I don’t have much info on
them.
These top two images were probably taken between
1915 and 1935. I’ve worked here in Omaha as the
digital archivist for the Benson Historical Society for
almost a decade so preserving old photos is one of the
things I do well. Attached are four of what I have.
Both are undated (but probably taken between 1915
and 1935) and were shot near the Swanson farm
west of Aurora. The first is my great-uncle on the right,
Myrl R. Swanson, with another man showing their
hunting skills of the prairie chicken. The other shows a
hunting expedition in a wagon pulled by mules. What’s
interesting is that it seems that they unhitched a horse
from another wagon to pose in the shot. The mules
don’t look too happy, with their ears back. It seems
they wanted to show off the horse as well.
– Sam G. Swanson, Omaha, Nebraska
▲
Here’s one from North Platte in 1893 (bottom left).
My grandmother is the girl in front with the hand mitts.
The photo was by her father who was also at one time
the mayor of North Platte, Victor vonGoetz (shown in
the image below).
▲
Victor was an illustrious character of North Platte. An immigrant
from Austria, he had many titles. Originally planning to go all the way
to Oregon, he ended up settling in North Platte and working for the
Union Pacific since he was trained as a mechanical engineer.
He went on to be mayor of North Platte, ran a dry goods store
there and also was a photographer. He even went on two tours with
Buffalo Bill, documenting the showman’s Wild West Show. Victor
later sold his photo equipment to Louis Bostwick and helped him get
started in photography.
At right is a photo of Victor taken by Bostwick in 1929 at Victor’s
home in North Platte. This scan is from the original 8-by-10 negative.
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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Baked Rigatoni with Wild
Turkey Meatballs
A pasta casserole with turkey, mushrooms and bacon.
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
S
imple to put together and filling,
I love a good baked pasta
dish. And having discovered
some beautiful velvet pioppini
mushrooms at the grocery store, I
added them to this casserole for texture
and a woodsy flavor that complemented
the ground turkey meatballs. However,
you may use any mushroom you prefer.
The ground meat came from the thighs
and legs of a wild turkey, and I didn’t
miss the red meat. This pasta dish also
makes great leftovers.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
4 slices of bacon, chopped
8 ounces of any mushroom
2 14-ounce cans of chopped Italian
tomatoes
1
⁄3 cup of fresh flat-leaf parsley,
chopped
1 pound of uncooked rigatoni
pasta
8 ounces of grated mozzarella
cheese
1 cup of whole milk
ricotta cheese
1
⁄3 cup of grated
Parmesan cheese, plus
extra for sprinkling
Meatballs
1 pound of ground wild
turkey
1 egg
¼ cup of grated Parmesan
cheese
3 tablespoons of flat-leaf
parsley, chopped
½ cup of Italian-style
breadcrumbs
4 cloves of garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
a boil with a generous pinch of salt.
Cook rigatoni pasta according to
package directions for al dente. Drain
and set aside, reserving some of the
cooking liquid for later.
2. To make meatballs, combine
ground turkey, egg, ¼ cup of grated
Parmesan, parsley, breadcrumbs, garlic,
salt and pepper. Roll into balls and
place on parchment paper to avoid
sticking. In a large frying pan, heat 3
tablespoons of olive oil over mediumhigh heat. Once the oil is hot but not
smoking, fry meatballs until browned
on all sides. Remove meatballs, drain
on paper towels and set aside.
3. In the same pan, lower heat to
medium and render chopped bacon in
the remaining oil, stirring occasionally.
Add mushrooms to the bacon and sauté
for 5 minutes. Add 2 cloves of chopped
garlic and stir for 30 seconds. Next,
add tomatoes with juice and parsley.
Simmer until
thickened, 10-20 minutes.
4. Take the tomato sauce off the
heat. In a large bowl, combine cooked
rigatoni pasta, tomato sauce, meatballs,
grated mozzarella cheese, ricotta and
1
⁄3 cup of grated Parmesan. Add salt
and pepper to taste and, if necessary,
add some reserved pasta liquid to keep
mixture moist.
5. Transfer pasta mixture to a large
baking dish. Sprinkle more grated
Parmesan cheese on top. Bake pasta
for 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven or
until the top turns golden and
the cheese has
melted. ■
This recipe
and photograph
originally appeared
on jonesdairyfarm.
com.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Fahrenheit. Bring a pot of water to
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Standing on Ice
W
e went from the airport to a frozen pond – the “we” being Robbie Gaia, my
lifelong best friend, and myself. The entire time we told stories about our
outdoor exploits.
Through the years we have talked each other into many trips – from
largemouth bass fishing in the cypress tree swamps of Louisiana to fly-fishing
for smallies in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.
But this trip would be different. I was asking him to do something that, for his entire
life, he had been told not to do – stand on a block of ice.
In Tennessee, where we grew up, ice was always to be avoided. There was never ice
thick enough to warrant any reason to stand on it. When we shot ducks across a frozen
pond as kids, we retrieved them by casting crankbaits across the ice, hooking into the
ducks we had shot and reeling them back in.
Now I was asking him to spend a 40-degree day walking across this body of hardwater
because I bragged about how much he would enjoy it.
Within minutes, he understood why with his first pole bend of the day. It wasn’t his last.
We caught fish all day on the ice – bluegills, bass, and crappie –
continuing our stories about deer, duck and fishing seasons past the
entire time.
Nearly a year later, as winter returns, we continue these talks
about our past trips in the field. Except now we talk about the day he
first stood on ice, and how it was different than anything else he had
ever done.
Jeff Kurrus
Dec. 4, 2017
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Position: 743 (23 views)