Volume 99, Issue 10, 2021
December 2021
- Identifier:
- nela.2021_099_10
- Title:
- Volume 99, Issue 10, 2021
- Issue Name:
- December 2021
- Date Issued:
- 2021-12-01
- year:
- 2021
- month:
- December
- Season:
- Autumn
- PDF filename:
- NL_99.10_2021_Dec_Spreads_Entire.pdf
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 099
- issue:
- 10
- number:
- 099.10
- Decade:
- 2020s
- Type:
- Rights Holder:
- Copyright Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, all rights reserved.
- Extracted Text:
-
magazine
$4.95
To renew your subscription or change your
address call 1-800-632-5263
December
D
ecember 2
2021
021
Volume 99 No. 10
December 2021
Cover: A limit of bluegills lie next to a Vexilar and ice fishing rod and reel
C
aat Lawrence Youngman Lake in Douglas County. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
TThis page: Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) at sunset in Dawes County.
JJUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
FEATURES
18
ROSE CREEK MAUSOLEUM
28
OUTDOOR NEBRASKA
Story and photos by Eric Fowler
What to Do in December
By Renae Blum
30
A PUPPY FOR THE HOLIDAYS
36
HOW THE REPUBLICAN RIVER
GOT ITS NAME
38
44
46
By Todd Mills
By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska
FROM THE WHITETOP
Capturing Nature Photos From the Road
By Nebraskaland Staff
BLACK POWDER
A Muzzleloading Primer
By Tim Reigert
TALES AND TIPS
From the Hardwater
Story and photos by Jeff Kurrus
DEPARTMENTS
6 Your Nebraska
10 In the Field
52 Mixed Bag
58 Portraits from the Past
62 The Last Stop
ON THE WEB
Nebraskaland (VOL. 99 / NO. 10 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 • December 2021
For more articles and
information, visit
NebraskalandMagazine.com
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
3
Magazine Staff
magazine
Published by the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission since 1926. The Commission is
dedicated to the conservation and protection
of all the state's natural resources and the
people who use them.
Communications Director Christy Firestone
Public Relations Manager Shawna RichterRyerson
Editor Jeff Kurrus
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, Todd Mills,
Ryan Sparks, Gerry Steinauer
Art Director Tim Reigert
Graphic Designer Mel Severin
Photo Librarian Jaclyn Cruikshank Vogt
Administration
Director Tim McCoy
Commissioners
Chairman - Dan Kreitman, Wahoo
Vice Chairman - Pat Berggren, Broken Bow
2nd Vice Chairman - Rick Brandt, Roca
Robert Allen, Eustis
Ken Curry, Columbus
Donna Kush, Omaha
Scott Cassels, Omaha
John Hoggatt, Kearney
Doug Zingula, Sidney
Circulation
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Email: shanegilster@gmail.com
Nebraskaland Magazine Copyright 2021, all rights reserved.
Nebraskaland is available in audio from the Nebraska Library
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Lincoln, NE 68508. 800-742-7691. Nebraskaland Magazine and the
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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
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Commission Offices
Conservation Officers
Headquarters/Southeast District Office
2200 N. 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503
Phone 402-471-0641
ADMINISTRATION (Lincoln)
Craig Stover (Administrator)
Duane Arp (Asst. Administrator)
Travis Shepler (Asst. Administrator)
Jeff Clauson (Asst. Administrator)
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/Schramm Education
Center
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
402-471-5531
NORTHWEST (Includes counties covered)
Dan Kling (Lieutenant)
308-430-0572
EAST SUB-DISTRICT
Sean Schultz (Sergeant)
308-760-0145
Jerod Hahn (Deuel, Garden, Grant)
Keith Jadlowski (Keith, Deuel)
Jaden Porter (Keith, Garden)
Tyler Stueck (Keith)
308-520-5539
308-289-9580
308-289-2274
308-289-6260
(Keith, Arthur)
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
308-672-1824
Kelsey Glodowski
308-763-8226
Josh Widhelm (Morrill, Scotts Bluff)
Jacob Stoinski (Sioux, Dawes)
308-279-9133
308-615-9017
(Kimball, Banner, Scotts Bluff)
(Box Butte, Sheridan, Grant)
NORTHEAST (Includes counties covered)
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Jeff Jones (Sergeant)
402-762-5022
John Bauer (Holt, Boyd)
Dale Davis (Keya Paha, Brown, Rock)
Jonathan Andreasen
402-314-9257
402-760-0712
402-340-3981
Mitch Johnson (Knox, Antelope, Pierce)
402-613-8612
(Knox, Cedar)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Cory Krause (Sergeant)
402-380-6410
Kyler Prochaska (Platte, Colfax)
Nicholas Fix (Dixon, Dakota, Thurston)
402-830-8278
402-508-0261
(Cuming, Wayne, Stanton)
CENTRAL (Includes counties covered)
Mike Thome (Lieutenant)
308-293-8746
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
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, 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 800-642-6112; Office
of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Interior, 1849
C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
4
Nebraskaland • December 2021
Doug Pollard (Sergeant)
308-730-7050
Matt Brandt (Sherman, Howard)
Daryl Teter (Howard, Greeley, Merrick)
Trent Howard (Nance, Wheeler, Boone)
Kyle Gaston (York, Polk, Hamilton)
308-202-0819
308-440-1863
308-318-1273
402-719-6226
(Loup, Garfield, Valley)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Matt Taylor (Sergeant)
402-200-9597
Tim Williams (Hall, Hamilton, York)
Eric Javins (Adams, Clay, Webster)
Pat George (Harlan, Franklin, Phelps)
Ethan Teter (Buffalo, Kearney)
308-380-7331
402-902-2017
308-920-2762
308-440-3847
(Thayer, Fillmore, Nuckolls)
SOUTHWEST (Includes counties covered)
Roger Thompson (Lieutenant)
308-530-3097
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Kevin Bergstrom (Sergeant)
308-520-1031
Ray Dierking (Custer, Thomas, Blaine)
Frank Miller (Cherry, Hooker)
Greg Hesse
308-870-0322
402-389-0444
308-546-7464
Alex Hasenauer (Lincoln, Perkins)
Brandon O’Neal
308-660-4671
308-530-3157
(Lincoln)
(Hooker, Thomas, southern Cherry)
Sean McKeehan (Sergeant)
(Madison, Pierce, Stanton)
OutdoorNebraska.org
Look for screech owls roosting in
evergreens on winter days.
(Lincoln, McPherson, Logan)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Brian Piernicky (Sergeant)
308-340-6627
Bryce Streger (Dawson, Gosper, Custer)
Matt Andrews
308-537-0404
308-746-2418
Taylor Dixon (Dawson, Gosper)
Sophia Gobber
308-217-2108
308-222-0368
(Red Willow, Frontier, Hayes, Hitchcock)
(Furnas, Gosper, Frontier, Red Willow)
(Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock)
SOUTHEAST (Includes counties covered)
Stacey Lewton (Lieutenant)
402-890-7140
EAST SUB-DISTRICT
Heath Packett (Sergeant)
402-210-0888
Russell Mort (Otoe, Johnson)
Rich Berggren (Douglas)
Brian Arp (Douglas, Sarpy)
Dan Evasco (Sarpy)
Mike Luben (Saunders, Butler)
Bryan Adams
402-209-1506
402-619-1355
402-530-9011
402-616-5961
402-443-6392
402-429-1924
(Cass)
(Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson)
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
Scott Eveland (Sergeant)
402-853-3273
Dina Barta (Lancaster),
Dudley Sorensen (Lancaster)
Mark Sullivan (Lancaster, Seward, Butler)
Trevor Stahlecker (Lancaster, Saline)
Matt Seitz (Gage, Jefferson)
402-890-6463
402-937-3422
402-741-0636
402-314-9641
402-806-0915
(Lancaster)
YOUR NEBRASKA
Instagram Photos
Follow us @nebraskaland
and tag us in your photos
to be featured in an
upcoming issue.
6
Nebraskaland • December 2021
Amy Nichols, Ithica
Autumn at CenturyLink Lake
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
7
YOUR NEBRASKA
Barry Major, Omaha
Milky Way in the Sandhills
Dean Emsick, Omaha
Platte River State Park
Gordon Warrick, Valentine
Great Spangled Fritillary
Send your comments and
photos to:
Jeff Kurrus, Editor
Nebraskaland Magazine
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503
or email Jeff.Kurrus@Nebraska.gov
Please include your postal address
and telephone number. Letters
may be condensed and edited.
Photographs are also welcome.
8
Nebraskaland • December 2021
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
9
IN THE FIELD
RUNNING RAM
A bighorn sheep (Ovis
canadensis) bounds through
the grass at Williams Gap
Wildlife Management Area in
the Wildcat Hills region of
Banner County.
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10
Nebraskaland • December 2021
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
11
IN THE FIELD
PHIL SWANSON
CREEPIN’
By Joel G. Jorgensen
By late fall most of the songbirds that summer in or migrate
through Nebraska are gone for the year, but one odd and
uncommon bird should be looked for from October onward.
The brown creeper is North America’s only treecreeper.
These birds do exactly as their name implies: move or “creep”
up the trunks and branches of trees in a fashion similar to
woodpeckers. They usually start low on a tree and work their
way up and then make a short flight to another tree and
repeat the process over and over.
Brown creepers are small, cryptically-colored and
usually quiet other than their high-pitched calls, which
are easily ignored. Lone brown creepers often are observed
in loose feeding flocks of common songbirds that include
black-capped chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches and
woodpeckers in wooded areas and suburban spaces.
Unlike those species that seem to be seeking attention
from birdwatchers with loud calls and distinctive plumages,
the brown creeper shies away from attention or shameless
self-promotion. This species also is not on the guest list of
birds expected to make regular appearances at bird feeders
or even bird baths. Brown creepers are never common in
12
Nebraskaland • December 2021
Nebraska, so anytime the species is encountered, one should
take a few moments to appreciate this peculiar little bird.
A brown creeper’s life essentially revolves around tree
bark. Creeping birds spend most of their time using their
sharp, thin curved bill to probe the grooves in the bark of
trees for insects and insect larvae. However, the brown
creeper’s relationship with bark does not end there, as their
nests are typically located in the small space between
a tree trunk and the bark that is sloughing off a dying,
large tree.
Brown creepers are primarily spring and fall migrants and
winter visitors in Nebraska, but they do occasionally nest
in the Pine Ridge, Middle Niobrara River region or at sites
along the Missouri River, such as Fontenelle Forest. Being
easily overlooked, they may be a more common breeder than
the few records we have of them indicate. However, most of
the brown creepers seen in Nebraska during migration and
winter likely breed in the boreal forests of Canada.
So this fall or winter, feel free to give those big trees along
your favorite path in the woods a few closer looks for this
shy, but nifty, little gem.
IN THE FIELD
The “feels like” temperature can be bearable for winter hunters when the wind is light.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
HOW DO YOU FEEL?
By Martha D. Shulski
In recent years, I’ve heard a new term when listening to
weather reports during summer — the “feels like” temperature.
I’m not sure what precipitated the shift in nomenclature
away from heat index, but I am personally not a fan of the
weather conditions that result in its usage. This “feels like”
measurement is designed to provide an apparent temperature
that takes into account more than just the temperature of the
air around you.
How is this “feels like” temperature determined? The
calculation uses both relative humidity and air temperature.
As both of these values increase, human comfort decreases.
Sometimes what may seem like a relatively modest air
temperature of 90 degrees can seem downright oppressive if
the atmosphere is moist, or sultry, as some early
biometeorology researchers have phrased it. Our bodies take
advantage of evaporative cooling through sweat, but humid
conditions suppress its effectiveness. Exposure at certain
categories of high heat feels like temperatures can lead to
dangerous outcomes. For example, an index of 103 degrees or
higher can cause heat exhaustion with prolonged exposure
and/or physical activity.
Temperature and humidity are two commonly observed
parameters, although some weather stations also record solar
radiation and wind. If this is the case, it is possible and more
representative, in fact, to calculate a comprehensive climate
index.
14
Nebraskaland • December 2021
Often used to determine cattle stress, it is a product of
four different weather variables rather than two. Sunny
and calm days drive up this climate index to indicate more
uncomfortable conditions, while a breeze and overcast skies
suppresses it. Even just a breath of wind can sometimes
provide welcome relief and aid in evaporative cooling.
When winter settles upon us, the “feels like” temperature
switches to a different mode. Air temperature and wind speed
are two of the most important factors that determine our
comfort level. As temperatures take a dive and the wind kicks
up, a wind chill temperature is determined and reported. This
metric is based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin.
The higher the wind speed, the more heat that is lost, and the
colder we feel. Even with an air temperature of zero, a wind
speed of just 15 mph can result in frostbite in 30 minutes, with
a “feels like” temperature of -19. This same cattle comfort
index used to describe a summer “feels like” temperature also
depicts the cold extremes.
The weather observation network run by our climate office
keeps tabs on these “feels like” temperatures all season long.
If you are exposed to the elements for any length of time and
you’re feeling uncomfortable, be sure to check these “feels
like” temperatures.
Martha D. Shulski, at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is
the director of the Nebraska State Climate Office.
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4ŘĬƓƈƧćɠ
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IN THE FIELD
Gaelic steak is one of Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite dishes.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
GAELIC VENISON STEAK
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Queen Elizabeth II is close to what
I would consider a “hero,” and Gaelic
steak is one of her favorite dishes.
Although Her Royal Highness might
enjoy this recipe prepared with beef
tenderloin at Buckingham Palace,
venison loin is the protein of choice
when the Royal Family retreats at
Balmoral, which is located in the
Highlands of Scotland.
Servings: 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 40 minutes
Ingredients:
1 pound of venison loin
Kosher salt, to taste
Freshly cracked pepper, to taste
Olive oil
½ pound of peeled parsnips
½ pound of peeled starchy
potatoes
3 tablespoons of butter, separated
About 1½ cups of heavy whipping
cream, separated
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
16
Nebraskaland • December 2021
•8
•
•
ounces of sliced mushrooms,
your choice
Quarter of an onion, chopped
1 ounce of Irish or Scotch whisky
1. Take meat out of the refrigerator
one hour prior to cooking. Cut into
2-inch-thick medallions and season
with salt.
2. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
Cut parsnips and potatoes into cubes
— the parsnips will take longer to
soften, so cut them smaller. Place in a
saucepan, cover with salted water and
bring to a boil. Simmer until softened,
about 30 minutes. Keep warm in the
water until you’re ready to prepare the
rest of the dish.
3. Heat oil and 1 tablespoon of
butter in a pan. Pat venison medallions
completely dry with paper towels and
salt again if desired. When butter and
oil gets hot, brown meat on both sides
for a good crust. Transfer venison to
a rimmed cookie sheet and sprinkle
cracked pepper on both sides. Roast
in a 300-degree oven until internal
temperature reaches 127 degrees,
about 5-7 minutes, for medium rare.
Take meat out of the oven and loosely
tent with foil. Allow to rest for at least
5 minutes before serving.
4. While the venison is in the oven:
In the same pan where the venison
was browned, add more oil to the pan
and brown sliced mushrooms over
medium-high heat. Then add onion
and sauté until soft. Carefully stir
in whisky and allow to simmer until
almost completely evaporated. Lower
heat to low and stir in 3/4 cup of heavy
cream. Simmer until thickened and
season to taste.
5. Meanwhile, drain parsnips and
potatoes and return to the warm pot.
Add 2 tablespoons of butter and mash.
Stir in heated heavy cream, as desired,
and season to taste. Serve mashed
parsnip-potato and venison with
cream sauce on top.
Share the joy of hunting!
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GRAND PRIZE
John Deere
XUV590M Gator
in Camo
ɥɥɥÜĬƃ
īĴƑƄɢ
LEARN MORE AT
OutdoorNebraska.org/TakeEmHunting
December 2021 • Nebraskaland 17
Rose
Creek
Mausoleum
Story and photos
by Eric Fowler
Tucked away in a sandstone outcropping in
Jefferson County is an oddity that will amaze
anyone who visits: a rock-cut tomb carved by
hand a century ago.
An arched doorway, 6½ feet high, 4 feet
wide and more than 2 feet deep, marks
the entrance to McDowell’s Tomb in the
cliff above Rose Creek.
N
elson McDowell was reportedly
a colorful character. And if
you visit the “mausoleum”
he carved out of a sandstone cliff
overlooking Rose Creek in Jefferson
County, and later learn that it may
have simply been a hobby to keep him
busy and in good health rather than a
place he intended to be buried, that is
easy to believe.
20
Nebraskaland • December 2021
The mausoleum, by definition, isn’t
actually a mausoleum. Also known as
McDowell’s Tomb, it is located on Rose
Creek Wildlife Management Area, a
few miles southwest of Fairbury.
McDowell started his project in 1915,
and over the next 10 years, cut his
way nearly 30 feet into the bluff. In the
decades since, people have come from
near and far, with the oddity even
gaining mention in Ripley’s Believe It
Or Not in 1971. Nowadays, visitors
see the dark, musty and dusty tomb
only occupied by moths, spiders and
millipedes, and the occasional snake
or bat.
McDowell, born in 1856, is the son
of J.B. McDowell, who helped found
the village of Avoca, Illinois, before
coming to Nebraska in 1868 with his
brother, Woodford. J.B. bought land
near Beatrice, built the first hotel in
the town and moved his family to
Nebraska in 1869. He was elected
to the state legislature in 1872, and
again in 1874, and worked for the
Federal Land Office in Lincoln before
settling in 1880 in Fairbury. Woodford
homesteaded a quarter section of
ground farther west, and in 1869 he
had half of that land platted, as did a
neighbor, to help found the town of
Fairbury, named for the town in which
he had resided in Illinois.
Nelson McDowell began working
as a clerk in the Secretary of State’s
office at the age of 17 while his father
was serving in the legislature. He
reportedly spent 17 years working in
The circular ceiling of the first room
in the tomb, measuring 10 feet wide,
includes a horizontal lip, or drum, that
leads to a dome in which foot-wide
rectangular recesses form an X. At the
peak is another 2-foot wide, spherical
opening that extends upwards
another 2 feet, bringing the entire
height of the entry room to 13½ feet.
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
21
McDowell hired a Fairbury tombstone carver to put the finishing touches on
his creation. He carved “Mausoleum” above the arched doorway, and added
inscriptions that include “Lookout Mountain” on the cliff nearby. Modern-day
carvers, including Joe, have left their own marks.
A second arched doorway 6 feet high
and 2½ feet wide leads to the burial
chamber measuring 9 feet deep and
6½ feet wide with a less intricate
domed ceiling that tops out at 9½
feet. On each side a bench is carved
into a bowed wall, one 6½ feet long
and the other 7, intended to hold the
bodies or caskets of McDowell and his
neighbor, Cliff Hunter.
the statehouse, residing in Lincoln at
the time, and a few years as a banker in
Fairbury. But it is believed that his main
occupation later in life was as a farmer.
McDowell had health issues and
escaped to the Pacific Coast for a time
to address them. His return in January
of 1914 was noteworthy enough to take
up one sentence in the community news
22
Nebraskaland • December 2021
section of the local newspaper. The
following year, at age 58 and looking to
improve his health, he picked up his tools
and began to hammer, chisel and carve
away at the base of a rounded, stone
outcropping on a north-facing hill above
Rose Creek on one of his farms.
By the time he was done 10 years
later, he had removed roughly 45 cubic
yards of sandstone to create his tworoom masterpiece. The outer room, an
antechamber, has an intricately carved
domed ceiling. The inner room, the
burial chamber, has benches carved
on either side to hold the caskets of
McDowell and his neighbor, Cliff Hunter,
who reportedly provided McDowell with
some assistance in the project.
For the finishing touches, McDowell
hired a tombstone carver from Fairbury
to engrave some inscriptions on the
rocks around the tomb. These include
“Mausoleum” above the door, as well as
“Lookout Mountain,” “Lover’s Lane,”
“Puplit Rock” and “Devil’s Slide.”
As word of McDowell’s creation
spread, it drew visitors and became
a picnic ground. Some chose to leave
their own mark, engraving names or
initials and dates in the stone, both
inside the tomb and on the rocks
around it, a tradition that continues
to this day. McDowell didn’t appreciate
this and fashioned a gate over the
entrance to protect the inside of the
tomb; he may have even closed it to
visitors at one point.
On Sept. 27, 1937, at the age of 80,
McDowell was killed when a car he
was riding in was struck by a Union
Pacific train at a crossing in Fairbury.
The engineer of the train reported
that the car came to a complete stop
and then suddenly darted forward
into his path. The driver, Charles
Hansen, also was injured, but could
not remember details of the crash.
Witnesses speculate the car was still
in gear when he stopped and, when
he released the clutch, it moved onto
the tracks.
McDowell would not be buried in
the tomb he created: Some reports
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
23
Graffiti covers nearly every inch
of rock near the tomb, including
this slab of sandstone to the
east, which also features colorful
swales left when the sandstone
was formed eons ago.
24
Nebraskaland • December 2021
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
25
Rose Creek WMA
McDowell’s Tomb is on Rose Creek Wildlife Management Area on 566th
Avenue, 11⁄2 miles south of Highway 8 southwest of Fairbury.
The 384-acre area includes a mix of oak woodlands and savannahs,
native tallgrass prairie and former farm ground now maintained as food
plots. It is popular among deer, turkey and quail hunters. Trees and
brush growing along two abandoned railroad lines add to its diversity.
So does its namesake, Rose Creek, which winds for 1.3 miles through the
area and is “a great catfishing creek,” said Brad Seitz, who manages the
area for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Seitz initially thought the historical value of the mausoleum might
preclude the land being acquired by Game and Parks when the agency
was considering its purchase. “Another way I thought was it would be
great if the state got it,” Seitz said. “Maybe we aren’t going to do anything
special, but at least we’ve got it in public domain and people can come
see it.”
The Nebraska State Historical Society determined the tomb, while
unique, did not meet the National Park Service’s requirements to be
included on the National Register of Historic Places, and the acquisition
was completed.
Seitz said he’s sometimes surprised at the number of people who visit
the mausoleum, including a few that camp in it. Generally, they leave
it alone and clean up after themselves. But vandals continue to carve
their names in the rock. Graffiti covers nearly every inch of the tomb
and the rocks around it as high as a person can reach, and even higher,
suggesting some folks must have hauled ladders to reach a clean slate.
Some of the oldest etchings have certainly been covered by new ones.
The oldest legible date I could find is 1933. The newest: 2021.
Scofflaws have also used inscriptions created by a Fairbury tombstone
carver as target practice. The Mausoleum inscription above the door
remains intact. Lookout Mountain is riddled with bullet holes. Another
carving is illegible. Three others known to have existed cannot be found.
The bigger threat to the tomb is erosion from Rose Creek, which continues
to carve away at the bank below it, and the trail leading to it, taking a large
swath of soil and toppling several trees during flooding in 2019.
No trails are maintained on the wildlife area, but there are two primitive
paths that lead to it. From the parking lot, follow a two-track maintenance
road for a quarter mile and take another right on a less-traveled road.
From this junction, it is just 250 yards to the tomb, but the last 80 yards
require traversing a steep slope and climbing several eroded banks. The
second option is to follow the road 650 yards south of the parking lot
and head west before you reach the pond. A faint trail will lead you up
a hill, across the ridgetop prairie and back down through the woodland,
winding back east to the tomb.
26
Nebraskaland • December 2021
A slab of sandstone that slid from the cliff face overlooking Rose Creek is covered with graffiti.
say it was discovered state law didn’t
allow it. Instead, he lies in his family’s
plot in the Fairbury cemetery. That
was the plan all along, according to
other accounts. The tomb “was never
intended to be a tomb but simply
a hobby,” W.F. Cramb, editor of the
Fairbury Journal, wrote in a postscript
to McDowell’s obituary a week after
his death. “It was all in accord with the
waggish nature of Nels McDowell. Its
real purpose was to keep him in good
health as he had been threatened, in
the early days of manhood, with TB
and realized that an outdoor life was
what he needed.”
McDowell’s prescription apparently
worked. “At the time of the accident
which resulted in the instant death,
he was apparently in perfect health,
erect, ruddy and cheerful looking,
more like a man of 50 than past 80,”
Cramb wrote.
Newspaper accounts of McDowell’s
life say he was an honest, generous,
hard-working man. While he owned
one of the first automobiles in Fairbury,
he lived in small apartments above
businesses in downtown Fairbury.
“He lived simply and saved his money
and left a modest fortune, 875 [acres]
of land and considerable property,”
Cramb wrote.
His generosity was revealed upon
his death. Nine years before he died,
he signed the deeds to two quarter
sections of land to brothers Paul and
Arthur Zimmerman, who for years had
rented them. He told no one about
the move, however. Just 18 months
before his death, he left envelopes for
each brother with another man with
instructions to deliver them if he met
his demise. A week after his death, the
Zimmermans were speechless when
they learned of his generous gift.
Notes McDowell left behind also
stated he wished the farm on which
he built his mausoleum go to the State
of Nebraska and become a park and
game reserve, something that made
headlines in both the local papers
and the Lincoln Star. No reports
can be found as to why that wish
didn’t become a reality. It can only
be assumed that with no will and
no official documents supporting
the idea, McDowell’s four surviving
siblings, who inherited the remainder
of his property, chose to do otherwise
with the farm.
People continued to visit the
mausoleum throughout the years with,
and likely some without, permission of
subsequent landowners.
So it is somewhat ironic that in 1995,
58 years after his death, McDowell’s
wish came true when the property was
purchased by Game and Parks. Now
anyone willing to take a short hike can
be amazed at what one man can do
with his hands and a few tools. N
December 2021 •
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27
Outdoor Nebraska
By Renae Blum
In between holiday shopping and family get-togethers, make sure to
add some outdoor fun to your schedule. These activities may be just
the breather you and your family need. N
What To Do in December
Prepare for ice
fishing
All month | Statewide
Time to ice fish! Make sure your auger
is sharp, put fresh line on the reels,
and pick up bait from your favorite
retailer. If there is ice this month, make
sure it’s safe before you venture out.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Bring home pheasant for the
holiday table
All month | Statewide
Wild pheasant makes a unique, delicious centerpiece for the holiday
table — with added pride for the hunter who brought it home.
Pheasant hunters can find plenty of resources to guide their hunt
at OutdoorNebraska.org/Upland, including a 2021-2022 hunting
forecast analyzing bird numbers, weather conditions and habitat
trends. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Take pictures at Chadron State Park
Year-round | Chadron
Nestled in the distinctive buttes and canyons of Nebraska’s Pine Ridge,
Chadron State Park is a lovely place to pursue winter photography, with or
without snow. Between the trails in the park and on the adjacent Nebraska
National Forest, there’s more than 100 miles of trails and old roads to explore.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
View eagles and waterfowl
All month | Statewide
This month, take the opportunity to view eagles and
waterfowl in person, which can be spotted on large
bodies of open water. Good locations include Carter
Lake, Lewis and Clark Lake, Lake McConaughy, Lake
Ogallala, Harlan County Reservoir and DeSoto National
Wildlife Refuge. Pick a time when the water isn’t frozen
or iced over, and make sure to bring your binoculars or
spotting scopes. BOB GRIER, NEBRASKALAND
Enjoy winter activities
at Mahoney State Park
As weather allows | Ashland
Mahoney State Park is a Nebraska winter
paradise. Enjoy sledding and ice skating
at the Activity Center, and pair it with a
cozy stay in a cabin with a warm fire going.
Other possibilities for winter fun include
cross-country skiing, ice fishing, wildlife
watching, special holiday events and a new
lodge for group get-togethers. Learn more at
OutdoorNebraska.org/Mahoney or by calling
the park at 402-944-2523.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
28
Nebraskaland • December 2021
December 2021 •
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29
A Puppy
for the
Holidays
By Todd Mills
W
ho doesn’t want a puppy for Christmas? A hunting companion for the next
several years sounds really enticing to most hunters. But finding that right
puppy is not only challenging, it’s also downright confusing.
The first Lab I ever owned cost me $50 and came as a referral from a friend who
offered to help me train her. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I was certain
that this was the dog for me. Call it dumb luck or my friend’s persistence in helping
me train her, but Nikki was a great retriever and an even better companion. It might
have helped that I killed a lot of birds over her, but either way, it taught me a lot
about finding the right fit in gun dogs.
Bloodlines Matter but Aren’t a Deal Breaker
I can’t tell you how many times an eager hunter bragged about the bloodlines
of the new puppy he was getting. Field trial champion, hunt test champion, HRC
champion ... you name it and I’ve heard it. But is that really important in choosing
the right puppy for you? I think the answer is both yes and no.
LEFT: From the runt to the
big bully of the bunch, each
puppy will come with different
challenges. Choose one that fits
your personality.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
ABOVE: Nothing is better than
watching a puppy nap among the
same decoys they’ll be retrieving
over in a short matter of time.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
30
Nebraskaland • December 2021
If you’re a first-time trainer, a high-powered bloodline can
come with its training challenges. Often with a high-powered
dog, you’re going to get a hard-charging dog, and that can be
challenging to keep under control. If your goal is hunt test
and field trial, then researching and finding a dog with that
type of pedigree is important. If your goal is a well-finished
gun dog, then finding a pup out of good hunting lines may
suit your needs better. Either way, researching and talking
with previous owners of pups out of the same bloodlines is
beneficial before you settle on the litter.
Choosing the Right Pup Out of the Litter
Going to see the litter for the first time is an exciting
adventure. Upon arrival, they may all look the same to
you. But are they really the same? And how do you know
which puppy to pick? By the time you go see them, they are
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
31
An English pointer responds to a trainer’s tool. Consistent work is critical to your dog hunting effectively.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
come with different challenges.
My second lab was the runt. In fact, when I went to pick up
Allie, she disappeared from the litter and was nowhere to be
found. She was out “hunting” since she had to fend for herself
in the litter. Independent and a loner, Allie liked to do things
her own way. She was easy to train, but I found it tough to
get her to do things right. After a time, I understood that
personality trait and adapted my training. With a dominant
pup, you’ll get a headstrong dog who thinks she can bully over
you. They are stubborn, but also tough as nails and willing to
do anything to please you. Whichever pup you choose, realize
that adapting your training to their personality is crucial.
As you look over the litter, look at how the pups interact
with each other. Try to find a personality trait you can relate
to. Obviously looks are important, but so is taking the time
to understand the pack and knowing which temperament
will work best with you. The book The Art of Raising a
Puppy by the Monks of New Skete is an excellent resource.
First Month Home
Getting a Labrador retriever pup acclimated to water work
will increase its long-term success. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
A young Lab retrieves a mallard duck during a Hall County hunt.
32
Nebraskaland • December 2021
DOUG STEINKE
already forming their personalities and hierarchy in the litter.
Everything from birth is about establishing a place in the
pack. From the runt to the big bully of the bunch, each will
Bringing that pup home is an exciting time for both pup
and owner. Exposing the pup to a new environment the right
way can be critical to speeding up the training process later.
Dogs generally thrive on routine, so establish one as soon as
you get home. Allow them to explore as much as they can,
while helping them to avoid accidents along the way.
Start getting your dog used to sleeping and resting in their
kennel right away. The kennel will become their safe haven
and a home when you are gone. During the first couple of
days, puppies will object by whining and making a fuss, but
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
33
don’t give in. Other than bathroom breaks, encourage them to
use the kennel as much as possible. Make it comfortable and
inviting, and after a few days, they’ll look forward to being
inside it.
Puppies require exercise and rest, so make sure you take
time to play with them at least three times a day as they
adapt to their new home. Then spend time getting them out
to socialize with other dogs and people. The more of this
you can do, the better as they continue to adapt to their new
surroundings.
Early Training Tips
Training a refined hunting dog can take up to three years
or more, so patience is the key when starting your gun dog
the right way. Establishing boundaries early with your pup
is important as they explore and test the waters. Anxious
to try and see what they have in their pup, novice trainers
make the mistake of moving forward too quickly, skipping
the essentials of a solid and steady gun dog.
Initial training sessions should focus on the basic
commands of no, sit, stay and come. Also, allow your
young pup to drag a lead around with them so they become
comfortable with its weight and pressure. A leash-broke dog
allows you to restrain them when needed.
Attention spans are short in young dogs, so providing
a positive learning environment while not overdoing it is
important. Keep training sessions short and avoid creating
boredom. When the pup begins to show signs of disinterest,
start closing up the training session. Always end on a positive
note with plenty of play time at the end.
Also, puppies’ memories are short, so don’t stress if your
dog has a bad session or doesn’t seem as interested on certain
days. The only thing that can ruin a pup at that age is when
a trainer consistently overdoes it, making sessions no longer
fun for the dog and owner. First-time pup owners can get
overzealous about showing off their pup; training young
dogs too long and too hard can dull their drive.
The goal is having a hunting partner for years to come. N
Calandra McCool of Omaha holds a chocolate Labrador retriever. Allowing a pup to tag along on a hunt shows them the ropes
for future hunts. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
Field Training
•
Nothing can replace live action. After your dog
has completed solid obedience training, spend
time with them in the field. Too many people love
the idea of having a hunting dog, but they often
spend very few days in the field with them and can’t
understand why the dog isn’t doing what they want.
If you’re going to invest in a gun dog, make sure you
invest time into shooting birds over them.
Your dog is going to screw up — a lot. Don’t
feel embarrassed when this happens. I’ve seen
new dog owners be afraid to hunt dogs with others
because they don’t want to ruin a hunt. Be prepared
for plenty of failure with your dog. These hunting
scenarios provide valuable training opportunities
for you down the line. One tip is to not carry a gun
for the first year if you have other hunters with you.
You can spend that time focusing on your pup.
Let your dog hunt. Man, I get worn out with
people who talk to their dogs all the time when
we’re hunting, trying to do everything for them. Your
pup needs time to learn on their own and use their
nose and instincts to find birds. Enabling them will
only create a dog that is solely dependent on you
and that is cause for disaster in the long term.
•
•
A pointer receives field work, on this day with homing
pigeons, in Cass County. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
If you have other hunters with you, don’t carry a gun so you can focus on your young dog.
34
Nebraskaland • December 2021
December 2021 •
DOUG STEINKE
Nebraskaland
35
How the Republican River Got Its Name
By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska
ave you ever wondered how the
Republican River got its name?
Gov. Frank Morrison, a Democrat,
used to tease his Republican
friends by asking, “Is it because it’s so
shallow or so crooked?”
Jokes aside, the connection to the
party seems obvious, doesn’t it? With
few exceptions, Nebraska has been
majority Republican since the Civil
War.
But look at the center of this 1839
map detail from Mitchell’s School and
Family Geography. The Republican
Fork had its name long before the
Republican Party was organized in the
1850s.
Might the name refer to Jefferson
and Madison’s followers? Opposing
Hamilton’s Federalists, they usually
called themselves Republicans or
sometimes Democratic-Republicans.
But the name is older than that, too.
H
At least by the 1780s, the river was
known to French traders as “Fourche
des Republiques” — the Forks of
the Republicans. Who were the
Republicans? The people living there
at the time were a band of Pawnees
who called themselves “Kitkehahki,”
the Little Earth-Lodge people.
For reasons not entirely clear,
French traders began referring to
the Kitkehahkis as the Republicans.
At that time, a “republican” was
anyone who believed in government
without a king or aristocracy. Perhaps
the Kitkehahkis’ ways impressed
the traders as an alternative to
their homeland’s highly centralized
monarchy. Desire for a republic was
gaining strength in France — as King
Louis XVI was soon to find out. N
Visit History Nebraska’s website at
history.nebraska.gov.
Map from 1839 showing the “Republican Fork.” History Nebraska, Forke map #52
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Nebraskaland
• December 2021
Pawnee Loup Fork Village, near Genoa, 1871. Though this photo was taken a century later and near a different river, it shows
what a Pawnee earth lodge village looked like. Pawnee settlements were much larger prior to epidemics that began in the
1790s. A large village might hold more than a hundred lodges and several thousand people. Traders would have noticed how
such large, densely populated communities were governed. History Nebraska RG2065-1-1
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
37
From the Whitetop
Capturing Nature Photos From the Road
By Nebraskaland Staff
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
at Montrose in Sioux County.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
38
Nebraskaland • December 2021
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
39
W
ake up early, grab a thermos of coffee and take a drive.
Gravel roads abound throughout Nebraska, and your vehicle is the perfect
photo blind. From scenic views to roadside wildlife, a steady windowsill
and your camera is all you need for a photograph worth sharing around the
holiday dinner table.
If you’re feeling especially motivated, visit one of the state’s national wildlife refuges
or state recreation areas and take a walk. You’re sure to have the area to yourself, just
you and the wildlife you’re hoping to encounter.
ABOVE: A northern cardinal sits in a tree in the woodlands at Indian
Cave State Park in Nemaha and Richardson counties.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
OPPOSITE: A mule deer buck grazes in a sunflower field near Chadron.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
40
Nebraskaland • December 2021
December 2021 •
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41
Safety Tips for Winter Road Photography
RIGHT: American bison at Fort
Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge
in Cherry County.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
The number of gravel roads in Nebraska seems
endless, as are the images to be captured while
traveling them. Keep these tips in mind when
trying to photograph from your vehicle.
Pull completely off the road. Don’t stop on a
hill where other vehicles coming from the other
side can’t see you, and turn on your hazard lights.
Use a window mount, sandbag or bath towel
to steady your camera on the window sill.
Snowy scenes can fool your camera’s light
•
•
•
42
Nebraskaland • December 2021
meter and result in underexposed images when
using automatic exposure settings. Overexpose
to insure you get the whitest of whites.
Some county roads will require higher
clearance than a car offers, or even four-wheel
drive. When in doubt, turn around, or you will
require something else: a tow strap.
Animals are used to cars. The distance you
might gain from stepping out of yours isn’t worth
the chance of your photo subject running away.
•
ABOVE: Sunrise peeking over the
Pine Ridge of Sioux County.
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
•
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
43
BLACK POWDER
1. Flintlock Rifle – A firearm that
uses a flint-striking ignition
mechanism. Introduced in the
early 17th century, it rapidly
replaced earlier firearmignition technologies.
8
A Muzzleloading Primer
By Tim Reigert
2. Percussion Rifle – The
percussion cap, introduced
circa 1820, is a type of singleuse ignition device that
enabled them to fire reliably
in any weather conditions.
9
f you haven’t tried hunting with a muzzleloader,
leloader, do so. With a season that
spans all of December, unlimited permitss and limited competition from
other hunters, this challenge is there forr the taking. Between using
a flintlock or percussion for traditionalists,
sts, to hunting
with an inline for a more modern esthetic, the
he choice is yours.
y
But if you are unfamiliar with
muzzleloaders, included in
this primer are the rifles
and accoutrements
needed to begin. N
I
10
3. Inline Rifle – Modern inline
black powder rifles are built
so the primer or percussion
cap can be set directly behind
the charge in the barrel of the
gun (thus “inline”).
4. Adjustable Powder Measure
(brass) - Used to ensure the
correct powder amount.
5. Ball or Short Starter – For
starting the projectile at the
muzzle’s opening.
11
1
1
6. Non-adjustable Powder
Measure (carved antler).
1
7. Cap holder for percussion caps.
8. Ramrod/Ramrod Kit – The
ramrod itself usually stores
under the rifle’s barrel and is
used to “seat” the projectile.
Other attachments are used
for cleaning and pulling a
stuck ball and/or patch.
12
2
9. Round Ball (lead) and Conical
lead bullets (swaged).
1 Shooting Patches – Used with
10.
lubrication to protect the
projectile on its journey both
into the barrel and out.
14
1 Inline: Sabot-style projectile,
11.
pelletized powder and speed
loader.
8
3
1 Bullet or Ball Bag – For storing
12.
(you guessed it) balls or bullets.
1 Possibles Bag – To keep most
13.
accoutrements together.
1 Powder Flask – A smaller
14.
container for blackpowder,
for priming the pan of a
flintlock.
5
4
44
Nebraskaland • December 2021
6
7
15
13
1
3
December 2021
•
20
Nebraskaland
1 Powder Horn – A container
15.
for blackpowder, generally
created from horn.
45
THANKS TO AARON HERSHBERGER AND JACK REIMAN FOR THEIR
ITEMS PICTURED. PHOTOS BY JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Tales and Tips
From the Hardwater
Rob Gaia, of Shelby
Forest, Tennessee, is all
smiles while showing
off a Nebraska bluegill
from a private pond in
Cass County.
Story and photos by Jeff Kurrus
M
any of us hunt and fish
because of the people we get
to hunt and fish with. Some
of the best conversations
I’ve had on the ice, in a duck blind
or while walking through tallgrass
prairie have featured topics like family,
politics and religion. While stories of
greenheads and big bucks fill the air,
they often are replaced by more serious
topics.
This is when true hunting and
fishing partnerships — friendships —
are formed.
When reminiscing through a set of
ice fishing images, I couldn’t help but
think about what else was going on
behind the scenes on these days, as
well as the act of fishing itself.
Because while we can ride the cliché
about the reasons we hunt and fish with
these friends, it always makes the story
seem to go a little better if we were,
indeed, having some success as well.
begin the process again until he was
ready to look at the next hole over.
“This is just like when we’re bass
fishing,” I told him. “If the fish aren’t
there, move.”
His joy was immediate, and this
image has always carried a different
level of meaning for me. Rob has two
sons, Hagen and Seth, with his wife
Caroline. While Hagen provides all the
challenges any 6-year-old does, Seth
is a special-needs child who was born
so prematurely he could have put his
hand and arm through that wedding
ring Rob is wearing on his finger.
So anytime Rob has the time to get in
the field, he makes those moments as
special as he can — and his smile and
willingness to learn show that.
Plus, as he told me, “Kurrus, this ice
fishing’s great. I can put my beer right
on the ice, and it stays cold all day
long.”
Within an Hour
My ice-fishing career started slow.
And for good reason. I wasn’t sure if I
was going to like it, so I was unwilling to
fork out much money to see. I was handaugering one or two holes a trip, ecstatic
when I had managed to catch a few fish
on homemade jigs through the ice.
However, on the day of this image
just two years later, I had pulled my
sled — loaded with a gas-powered ice
auger, a collection of rods and reels,
and my newest purchase, a Vexilar —
across the 200-acre lake in search of
bluegills.
And, man, did I find them. The fish
were stacked in this spot — like fish
We went straight from the airport to
the pond. I had just picked up my best
friend, Rob Gaia, after his flight from
Tennessee, and we were stepping on
the ice as soon as we could.
I walked him through how to use the
auger and schooled him on how to play
big gillies and bass on 2-pound-test.
“Very carefully.”
He would release line to the bottom
of the lake, wait for the line to bunch
up, then turn the handle until he was a
foot off the bottom. After a short time
of waiting — less than a minute or two
— he would reel up another foot and
46
Nebraskaland
• December 2021
Unfathomable
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
47
Matthew Marx shows a bluegill he caught while ice fishing at Lawrence Youngman Lake.
tend to do through the ice I’ve learned
— and I continued to catch them
that morning with little more than a
1
⁄16 -ounce jig tipped with a waxworm.
At the end, I sent my “trophy” photo to
everyone.
The unfathomable had become true.
Terrified to walk on ice of any thickness
just three years before and kicking in
holes with my feet a year later, I was
catching dinner through the ice.
What is He Doing?
A mess of bluegill,
Vexilar and icefishing rod and reel at
Lawrence Youngman
Lake in Douglas
County.
48 Nebraskaland • December 2021
I have asked myself this question
numerous times during the past 25
years when hunting or fishing with
Matthew Marx of Gretna. When in a
situation when most hunters would
say “No way,” Matt shrugs and tries
anyway. I’ve watched him sneak
across a wide-open bean field and
arrow a turkey with his bow, and the
amount of new techniques he’ll try
while fishing are innumerable. When
I first balked at fishing a soft plastic
“wacky worm” style, he thinks it’s
wacky not to try.
On this day, he was wearing a
pair of ski goggles on top of a pair of
sunglasses. At the time, the goggles
seemed a little bit overkill, but the
harder the wind blew that day the more
money I would have paid for a pair.
We caught countless bluegill,
managing to carve out some handsized fish for dinner between us, but
the goggles — and Matt’s creativity —
won the day for me.
All Alone
Don Cox and I had never met in
person, but when I pulled up to Pelican
Lake at the Valentine National Wildlife
Refuge, I knew exactly who he was.
There was one person, several hundred
yards away, fishing alone with a 25mph driving wind with 15-degree
temperatures.
I was there to photograph him. This
task, for many in front of the camera,
is awkward enough when there are
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
49
many trips we would be able to make
to this place. So we would need to stay
for a while. Our “flags,” as my kids still
call them, were a necessity. While the
kids are skating, sliding, sledding or
even fishing, they can watch the flags,
ready for the dead sprint when one
erupts.
On this day, we were catching little
bluegills — seemingly not much bigger
than the kids catching them — and
waiting for those flags to go up. And
while I remember the 4-pound-catfish
we brought in right before dark on one
of those flags, I can’t help but think
how damn little my kids were back
then.
OPPOSITE TOP: Don Cox of Minden
ice fishes at the Valentine National
Wildlife Refuge.
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Maddie Kurrus,
with brother Eli in the background,
holds a bluegill caught through the
ice.
BELOW: Kevin Green of Omaha fishes
at night at Ponca State Park in Dixon
County.
everyone in our group was together for
our annual pilgrimage to a Ponca State
Park mini-lodge for a couple of nights
to fish, hike and play cards with our
families and their kids. Until the adult
stuff took over. Until kids went away
to school. Until divorce. Until we no
longer made the trip.
Nothing stays the same, but for
a split second on this night, when
longtime ice fishing partner Kevin
Green was cutting holes after dark, I
was sure we had just opened the door
on our next level of ice fishing — the
night bite.
We could return to Ponca and do this
for years, I thought, knowing that the
crappie and channel catfish seemed
to become especially aggressive after
dark at times using the same jig-anda-waxie tactics we used during the day.
Now I’d be happy if all of us could
make just one more trip together,
whether we catch a fish or not. N
Last Ice
people around. But when a total
stranger is doing so, and it seems like
you’re the last two people on earth, the
awkwardness is amplified.
“So what do we do now?” Don asked
me when I met him on the ice.
“I don’t know about you,” I said, “but
I’m gonna fish.”
His entire demeanor immediately
softened. “Sounds good to me.” After
watching him that afternoon, he
remains the only angler I have fished
alongside who never came close to
using a waxworm. Artificial bait was all
he needed.
By the time it was good shooting
light three hours later, it was like
photographing an old friend with his
latest catch, which were many.
That afternoon, we had been granted
access to a pond with some really big
channel catfish, but I didn’t know how
When a group of friends take the
same vacation, to the same place, year
after year, it’s impossible not to get
these trips mixed up.
Yet the one pictured here I remember
distinctly. This was the last time
A Couple of LiƩle Ones
Regardless
of
the
weather
conditions, I’ve never shied away from
taking my kids fishing.
Sometimes slight modifications
must be made, including packing extra
clothes for when they step in a hole,
making sure there’s enough food to
feed two starving tigers, and bringing
enough tip-ups to entertain them for
hours.
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• December 2021
December 2021 •
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51
MIXED BAG
HOLIDAY GIFTS
By Eric Fowler and Jeff Kurrus
I
put a few hundred miles on two
models of AKU boots this summer
and fall, and can say the newest entry
into the premium hunting boot market
in the U.S. is worthy of a spot.
Handcrafted in Italy, the all-leather
boots Jager Evo GTX, a mountain boot,
and the Riserva GTX, a heavy-duty
hiker, are solid. I wore them in moderate
terrain in eastern Nebraska and on
rugged trails at Fort Robinson State
Park, traversed some of the steepest
slopes I’ve set foot on in Colorado
and hiked the rockiest trails I’ve ever
seen in Wyoming. Many of these miles
included training or hunting with a
heavy pack, and never did I question
the support my ankles needed in the
steep or rocky terrain. The rugged
Vibram soles provided plenty of grip
and the GORE-TEX liners kept my feet
dry.
Both models required a considerable
break-in period, as can be expected
from a boot made with leather this
thick. Once broken in, they fit like
a glove. There are lighter boots out
there, but these are built for durability.
The factory insoles were lacking in
cushion and support, and even slipped
a bit, but since I have high arches and
use after-market inserts, that wasn’t
an issue for me.
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Nebraskaland • December 2021
AKU boots are currently available
at only a handful of retailers in the
U.S., but the company is working
to expand that presence. The
boots are also available online at
akuoutdoor.us. –EF
and me at athletic practices and times
hunting and fishing.
Coming in an array of colors,
including hunter-friendly black,
evergreen and sand, these vacuuminsulated, stainless steel bottles live
in my vehicles.
While at times I wish these
20-ounce bottles were larger, their size
does allow for perfect packing into the
deer stand or duck blind. Plus, I have
another 7 ounces of dry storage for my
favorite trail mix or protein bar to keep
me from starving until a whitetail
walks within bow range.
Visit
flpsde.com
for
more
information. –JK
I
f you’re looking for a stocking stuffer
or a snack to throw in your pack,
grab some of Old Trapper’s Jumbo
Kippered Beef Steak.
Made with thick strips of lean beef,
well-seasoned with spices and fresh
ground pepper and then wood-smoked,
the steak snacks are moist, tender and
flavorful. They come in three flavors:
old fashioned, peppered and teriyaki.
The Kippered Beef Steak is the latest
snack from Old Trapper, which has
been making its authentic handmade
beef jerky in Forest Grove, Oregon, since
1969. It is available in individual and
12-pack boxes at numerous retailers
and online at oldtrapper.com –EF
I
was immediately intrigued with
FLPSDE, an Elkhorn, Nebraska,
company, when I saw their dual
chamber water bottles.
With one side for drink, and the
other for snacks, these water bottles
have become a mainstay for my kids
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
53
MIXED BAG
BOW SQUIRREL HUNT
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Program Offers a Small-Game Hunting Workshop
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
Widely abundant, squirrels
offer a low-cost, accessible
introduction to the sport of
hunting. Join Becoming an
Outdoors-Woman Dec. 4, 2021,
for a workshop followed by a
mentored squirrel hunt.
This all-day event will
take place at the Outdoor
Education Center in Lincoln
8 a.m.-6 p.m. The workshop is
open to ladies age 16 or older.
The hands-on workshop is
divided into two sessions. The
morning session will address
firearm handling, shooting
techniques and target practice
at the Outdoor Education Center.
Participants will travel to
squirrel woods near Lincoln for
a guided hunt in the afternoon.
Instructors also will cover field
dressing and processing.
The cost is $15 per person and
covers instruction, materials and
lunch. Registration is required.
Purchase
tickets
through
Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Further details will be sent
to registered participants. For
more information, contact the
Nebraska Outdoor Education
Center at (402) 471-6141.
Nebraska’s squirrel
season runs Aug. 1Jan. 31.
JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
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Nebraskaland • December 2021
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55
MIXED BAG
HOLIDAY GREENERY
By Julie Van Meter, State Entomologist,
Nebraska Department of Agriculture
As the holidays draw near, many families will celebrate by
decorating their homes with fresh greenery, live trees and
woody decorative florals. This is an excellent way to bring
a bit of nature into the home. But sometimes, nature comes
with unwanted guests.
Unfortunately, invasive plant pests can move in or on
holiday greenery that originated from other states. Gypsy
moths may lay egg masses on Christmas tree branches and
trunks. Boxwood blight spores can be carried on the foliage
and stems of boxwood used in garlands and baskets. Invasive
beetles have been found emerging from pine cones used as
decorations. In recent years, elongated hemlock scale has
been found infesting Fraser and balsam fir wreaths and
boughs.
Sometimes, the plant itself is the invasive pest. Oriental
bittersweet is a highly invasive, exotic plant. Bittersweet
berries are frequently used in fall and holiday arrangements
and can inadvertently be a seed source to start a new
infestation.
Everyone can take these simple steps to protect Nebraska
from the introduction and establishment of invasive
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Nebraskaland • December 2021
plant pests in holiday greenery. Purchase fresh-cut
Christmas trees, greenery and decorative florals that were
grown locally. The Nebraska Department of Agriculture
has a listing of Christmas tree farms on their website at
nda.nebraska.gov/publications/promotion/christmas_trees/
trees.html.
If you purchase a fresh Christmas tree, wreath or greenery
that was not grown in Nebraska, make sure to dispose of
it properly after it has served its purpose. Christmas tree
recycling sites that chip or burn the trees and greenery
are an excellent means of disposal and reduce the risk of
any unwanted pests emerging from the trees. Bittersweet,
decorative florals and any plant material that may contain
seeds are best disposed of in the trash.
The risk of invasive pests emerging while the plant
material is in the house is virtually non-existent. There is
also no need to be concerned that these pests will cause
damage to the home or threaten human health.
Invasive species pose a serious threat to Nebraska, and the
environmental and economic damage these pests can cause
can be devastating. So, enjoy your holiday traditions and
decorations, but do so responsibly. When it comes to freshcut trees, wreaths and greenery, the best buys are local.
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
57
PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST
Pike Fishing at Pelican Lake, 1984.
Our sons Wyatt, age 7, and Dustin, age 5, ice fishing on
Pelican Lake at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge. Our
sons became Eagle Scouts and enjoyed many adventures
camping, fishing and duck hunting.
We traveled to Chadron State Park and Fort Robinson State
Park several times as our sons grew up. At Chadron State
Park, they first discovered fireflies in the evening. I always
had to bring empty jars for collecting all sorts of specimens.
Wyatt’s interest in insects led him to achieve a doctorate in
entomology and become an invasive species specialist. Dustin
continues to have an adventurous spirit and loves camping,
downhill biking, hiking and traveling in Nebraska’s great
outdoors.
– Doyce Williams, North Platte
Pheasant Hunting near Wausa, 1999.
Pheasant hunting with my son and two buddies in Wausa, Nebraska, October 1999.
Pictured left to right: Lyle Rorvik, Wausa; myself, Elkhorn; my son, Will; and Mike O’Kane,
Elkhorn.
We have enjoyed many pheasant hunts in my home town of Wausa.
– Neil Kirby, Elkhorn
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Nebraskaland • December 2021
Waterfowl Hunting near Silver Creek, 1984.
Opening day of 1984 waterfowl season on Dale Beck Ranch north of Silver Creek, Nebraska. A
limit of ducks taken by the late Jack Higgins of Lincoln, left, and me, Randy Chinn, of Columbus.
Photo was taken by the late Gene Hornbeck, former retired outdoor editor of the Omaha WorldHerald. I’m 72 years old and have been hunting for 60 years and still hunt with my son, Todd
Chinn, on the Platte River.
– Randy Chinn, Columbus
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 2000. 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.
December 2021 •
Nebraskaland
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61
THE LAST STOP
HOLDING MY BREATH
By Jeff Kurrus
There are take-your-breath-away moments in nature.
When that deer you’ve been waiting to get a shot at
suddenly appears 20 yards away. When the sun first
dips below the horizon and the sky fills with pinks and
purples. Or even when you finally see the fish at the end
of your line, the one that’s bending your rod back on itself.
But there are also hold-your-breath moments in nature
… especially when you have a camera in hand. One such
moment is when the light has faded so much and your
shutter speed is so slow that any sort of movement, even
just breathing, will make it impossible to capture tacksharp images. And then there are the times when it’s so
cold that your breath fogs up the viewfinder, making it
impossible to see what you’re trying to photograph.
On this particular day, I experienced both. With light
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Nebraskaland • December 2021
fading and a long lens in hand, I hid beneath a makeshift
cloth blind and repeatedly pressed the button, trying to
rest the camera on my knees and holding my breath.
It wasn’t working. The camera continued to shake and
I could barely see the raccoon — the animal providing
the only source of color in the woods — through my
viewfinder.
Finally, I shed the blind and shot madly, drawing an
occasional, unconcerned look from the animal. After
shooting more than 200 images, I kept eight.
The best of the images you see here. And I accomplished
what I wanted to: To show all the little stories that can
be found in even the tiniest patches of forest. And as a
bonus, I also got what I always hope for when I’m in the
outdoors: to have something take my breath away.
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