Volume 102, Issue 1, 2024
January-February 2024
- Title:
- Volume 102, Issue 1, 2024
- Issue Name:
- January-February 2024
- Date Issued:
- 2024-01-01
- year:
- 2024
- Season:
- Winter
- Publisher:
- Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
- Format:
- Periodical
- volume:
- 102
- issue:
- 01
- number:
- 102.01
- Decade:
- 2020s
- edition:
- Liftout
- 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
I N S P I R I N G O U T D O O R A DV E N T U R E S I N C E 1 92 6
JA N UA RY- F E B RUA RY 20 24
In this issue
Nebraskaland
2 0 2 3 Pho t o Con t e s t
PLUS
Virginia Opossums O History of a Saloon Smasher
What to Do in January and February O She was Born to Hunt
Wildlife’s Wintering Ways O A Backyard Prairie O The Last Stop
2
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
Volume 102 No. 1
January-February 2024
Cover: Kristin Hartner, of Omaha,
C
w
won First Place in the Macro category
iin the 2023 Nebraskaland Photo
C
Contest for her image of a milkweed
bbeetle in Sarpy County. See page 16.
KRISTIN HARTNER
K
FEATURES
16
2023 PHOTO CONTEST
34
NEBRASKA’S ONLY MARSUPIAL
38
52
Photos submitted by Nebraskaland Magazine readers
T page: The sun rises above a
This
pponderoasa pine snag in Cherry
C
County.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
E
By Monica Macoubrie
AT THE CORE
Celebrating 40 Years of the
Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation
By Jeff Kurrus
OUTDOOR NEBRASKA
What to Do in January and February
By Renae Blum
54
LEARN TO HUNT
60
SALOON-SMASHING CARRIE NATION
IN NEBRASKA
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska
64
WILDLIFE’S WINTERING WAYS
70
A BACKYARD PRAIRIE
Story and photos by Justin Haag
An Acreage Transformed
Story and photos by Renae Blum
DEPARTMENTS
8
74
84
86
In the Field
Mixed Bag
Portraits from the Past
The Last Stop
ON THE WEB
For more articles and
information, visit
NebraskalandMagazine.com
4
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
Nebraskaland (VOL. 102 / 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 all UAA to CFS. (See DMM 507.1.5.2); NON-POSTAL AND MILITARY
FACILITIES: send address corrections to Nebraskaland, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370.
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
5
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
Deputy Director Jim Swenson
Assistant Director Roger Kuhn
Commissioners
Chairman - Scott Cassels, Omaha
Vice Chairman - Doug Zingula, Sidney
2nd Vice Chairman - John Hoggatt, Kearney
Pat Berggren, Broken Bow
Rick Brandt, Roca
Ken Curry, Columbus
Dan Hughes, Venango
Donna Kush, Omaha
Circulation
For address changes and questions about your
subscription, call 800-632-5263
Advertising Sales Manager
For advertising information contact
Shane G. Gilster, 402-742-0125
Email: shanegilster@gmail.com
Nebraskaland Magazine Copyright 2024, 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 Offices
Conservation Officers
Headquarters/Southeast District Office
2200 N. 33rd Street Lincoln, NE 68503
Phone 402-471-0641
ADMINISTRATION (Lincoln)
402-471-5531
Travis Shepler, Jeff Clauson
Northeast District Office
2201 N. 13th St. Norfolk, NE 68701
Phone 402-370-3374
NORTHWEST (Includes counties covered)
Dan Kling (Lieutenant)
308-430-0572
Southwest District Office
301 E. State Farm Rd. North Platte, NE 69101
Phone 308-535-8025
Jerod Hahn (Sergeant)
Hunter Lee (Keith)
Brandon Wallace (Keith)
Jaden Porter (Keith, Garden)
Tyler Stueck (Keith)
Travis Schultz (Morrill, Cheyenne)
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
EAST SUB-DISTRICT
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
Sean McKeehan (Sergeant)
Josh Widhelm (Scotts Bluff)
Justin Gress (Box Butte, Sheridan, Grant)
Jacob Stoinski (Sioux, Dawes)
402-471-5531
308-520-5539
308-280-4320
308-280-4488
308-289-2274
308-289-6260
308-279-1292
308-672-1824
308-279-9133
308-629-9335
308-615-9017
NORTHEAST (Includes counties covered)
Dale Davis (Lieutenant)
402-760-0712
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium/Schramm Education
Center
21502 W. Highway 31 Gretna, NE 68028
Phone 402-332-3901
Jeff Jones (Sergeant)
John Bauer (Holt, Boyd)
Tyler Adelman (Rock, Brown, Keya Paha)
Jonathan Andreasen
402-762-5022
402-314-9257
402-314-4783
402-340-3981
Omaha Office
8495 Frederick Street, Omaha, NE 68124
Phone 402-595-2144
Mitch Johnson (Knox, Antelope, Pierce)
402-613-8612
OutdoorNebraska.org
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission does not discriminate
based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual
orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information,
veteran status, marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs,
activities, or employment. 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 Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission, Lincoln,
NE 402-471-2024, TTY/TDD 800-642-6112; Director, Office of Diversity,
Inclusion and Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Interior, 1849 C Street,
NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
6
(Madison, Pierce, Stanton)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Cory Krause (Sergeant)
Kyler Prochaska (Platte, Colfax)
Matt Costello (Dodge, Colfax)
Kelbi Abke (Washington, Burt)
Mark McDonald (Dodge, Washington)
Nicholas Fix (Dixon, Dakota, Thurston)
402-380-6410
402-830-8278
402-317-4014
402-237-2537
402-805-2353
402-508-0261
CENTRAL (Includes counties covered)
Mike Thome (Lieutenant)
308-293-8746
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Doug Pollard (Sergeant)
Matt Brandt (Sherman, Howard)
Daryl Teter (Howard, Greeley, Merrick)
Klint Gill (Nance, Wheeler, Boone)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Matt Taylor (Sergeant)
Tim Williams (Hall, Hamilton, York)
Eric Javins (Adams, Clay, Webster)
Pat George (Harlan, Franklin, Phelps)
Ethan Teter (Buffalo, Kearney)
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
308-730-7050
308-202-0819
308-440-1863
402-613-5800
402-200-9597
308-380-7331
402-902-2017
308-920-2762
308-440-3847
Watch for snowy owls (Bubo
scandiacus) this time of year in
Nebraska. They’ll often be on
fenceposts and telephone poles.
GETTY IMAGES
SOUTHWEST (Includes counties covered)
Brian Piernicky (Lieutenant)
308-330-8780
NORTH SUB-DISTRICT
Hunter Pearson (Sergeant)
Frank Miller (Cherry, Hooker)
Greg Hesse
308-360-1817
402-389-0444
308-546-7464
Alex Hasenauer (Lincoln, Perkins)
Brandon O’Neal
308-660-4671
308-530-3157
(Hooker, Thomas, southern Cherry)
(Lincoln, McPherson, Logan)
SOUTH SUB-DISTRICT
Taylor Dixon (Sergeant)
Bryce Streger (Dawson, Gosper, Custer)
Kelsey Glodowski (Dundy, Hitchcock)
Sophia Gobber
(Chase, Dundy, Hayes, Hitchcock)
308-217-2108
308-537-0404
308-763-8226
308-222-0368
SOUTHEAST (Includes counties covered)
Stacey Lewton (Lieutenant)
402-890-7140
EAST SUB-DISTRICT
Heath Packett (Sergeant)
Russell Mort (Otoe, Johnson)
Rich Berggren (Douglas)
Brian Arp (Douglas, Sarpy)
Mike Luben (Saunders, Butler)
Bryan Adams
(Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson)
WEST SUB-DISTRICT
Matt Seitz (Sergeant)
Dina Barta (Lancaster)
Luis Nuñez (Lancaster)
Mark Sullivan (Lancaster, Seward, Butler)
Trevor Stahlecker (Lancaster, Saline)
Curt Prohaska (Lancaster)
402-210-0888
402-209-1506
402-619-1355
531-530-9011
402-443-6392
402-429-1924
402-806-0915
402-890-6463
531-333-6093
402-741-0636
402-314-9641
402-470-1298
IN THE FIELD
BLIND DOG
A Labrador retriever waits
in a blind during a Canada
goose hunt on the Platte
River near Hastings.
JEF
JJEFF
EFF
FF KUR
F
KU
KURRUS,
URRUS,
RUS
RU
US,
S, NEB
EB
BRA
RASK
ASK
A
S
SK
KALAN
ALAN
LAND
ND
8
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
9
IN THE FIELD
FORAGING IN WINTER
By Greg Wagner
Gathering wild foods in Nebraska is not just a spring,
summer or fall outdoor activity. Although it’s not easy and
the pickings might be slim, foraging can be done in winter
as well.
But first, check regulations, obtain landowner permission
and be able to positively identify plants with the help of a
reputable field guide or app
or by going with a Master
Naturalist.
Eat only small amounts of
wild foods that are new to
you at first, and harvest in
a sustainable manner, never
taking more than you can
eat. If you feel any doubt
about a plant, don’t eat it.
Cattail
found growing in tight, bright green bunches near water,
particularly at springs or in spring-fed streams.
This delicate vegetable is quite tasty raw, whether added
to salads, made into soup or used as a garnish on sandwiches.
Consume it quickly after picking it, and always be sure to
only pick it from bodies of water that aren’t compromised
byrunoff pollutants.
Rose Hip
Rose hips provide welcome
bursts of color in Nebraska’s
snow-covered countryside,
especially in the Sandhills
region. They’re also full
of sweet pulp that can be
eaten raw or boiled to make
syrup, jam or tea. Rose hips
have an herbal flavor that’s
suggestive of roses without
tasting too floral.
To make tea, boil 12-15
rose hips in water for 3-5
minutes. Smash them open
with a spoon and steep for
20 minutes before straining
and serving.
The young, cob-like tips of
this wetland plant are edible,
as are the white bottom part
of the lower stalk, and the
spurs and spaghetti-like
rootlets off the main roots.
Cattail pollen is edible, too,
but don’t eat the fuzzy, hotdog shaped heads. Cattail
rhizomes are starchy and
Persimmon
sweet, with a mild flavor and
One of the most coldscent.
hardy fruits in Nebraska is
Rose hips offer pops of fiery red in an autumn grassland.
To prepare cattail shoots or JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
the American persimmon.
the lower stalks, pull off the
When ripe, the fruit of this
tough/fibrous outer leaves until you reach the tender, white
native hardwood is round and about 1-2 inches in diameter,
inner core of the cattail heart. Wash the heart thoroughly
ranges from yellow-orange to a dark red-orange, and contains
and cut into roughly 4-inch pieces. Sauté in a skillet with oil
a large seed. Completely ripe wild persimmon is a delicacy.
for about 3 minutes. Then add minced garlic and ginger and
Look for wrinkled, soft, squishy fruit that is a bit sticky. You
a few splashes of sesame seed oil. Cover and steam for about
can eat ripe persimmons fresh or make them into a sweet
one minute. Cattails taste somewhat similar to potatoes.
jelly, jam or pudding.
Interestingly, after the leaves of the persimmon tree have
dropped, much of the fruit will remain attached to the
Watercress
branches in winter. They are edible, and you can even pick
While seeking cattails near streams, keep an eye
them up off the ground if they’re not rotten or half-eaten
out for watercress, a plant that likes cold water. It’s a
by wildlife. There are stories of early prairie pioneers in
peppery member of the mustard family. More palatable
Nebraska gathering persimmon fruits in the wintertime
than supermarket watercress, which is often bitter, wild
when other foods and even wild game animals were hard
watercress actually tastes sweeter in the wintertime. Even
to find.
during the snowiest days of winter, watercress can be
10
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
IN THE FIELD
Ice-fishing boots should be waterproof and rated for temperatures well below zero.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
ICE-FISHING BOOTS
By Daryl Bauer
Fisheries Biologist and Outreach Program Manager
I teach ice-fishing clinics each year, and we spend
at least some time talking about staying warm.
You will never enjoy ice-fishing if you are cold, and
of course, layering is the key. There is excellent
clothing available these days made just for icefishing. But don’t forget — the same goes for a pair
of good boots, because, well, while ice-fishing, you
are always standing on the ice.
What makes a good pair of ice-fishing boots?
They must be waterproof, and they must be rated
for temperatures well below zero. In my opinion,
pac boots of some kind, made with waterproof
outers with felt pack liners, are the best.
True, a pair of good ice-fishing boots isn’t cheap,
and while I generally believe that spending a lot
of money isn’t required to get you started on icefishing, a good pair of ice-fishing boots will last a
long time, and warm toes on the ice are worth every
penny. Sorel boots have been my ice-fishing boots
for many years — they are hard to beat.
Before you make the purchase, try on the boots
and make sure they are large enough, because
12
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
cramped toes are cold toes. Additionally, your boots
should be large enough to fit a pair or two of
heavy, quality socks. I usually wear a base pair
made of some type of synthetic blend, something
advertised as “moisture-wicking” to reduce sweaty
feet. Then, I layer with a thicker pair of wool or
wool-blend socks.
I was fooled with electric socks. I never liked
them — none of them ever worked as advertised.
Now, I expect electric socks and boot liners are a
whole lot better, but I’ve chosen to invest in quality
boots that don’t require me to wear electric socks or
even foot warmers.
One last thing that has proven to be worth its
weight in gold — a boot dryer! If you’re going to be
on the ice for consecutive days, you need to begin
each day with dry boots. The first boot dryer I tried
was given to me as a Christmas gift, and honestly,
I thought it was nothing but a gimmick — then
I found out it was no gimmick at all. I currently
have Cabela’s Original PEET Boot Dryer, and I use
it religiously.
IN THE FIELD
DUCK WITH STILTON-PEAR SALAD
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
This salad is about balance: Dark
waterfowl meat is complemented by
sweet pears; tangy, dark balsamic
vinegar; and salty, creamy Stilton blue
cheese. Candied walnuts not only play
off the slight funkiness of Stilton,
but also adds crunchy contrast to the
overall salad. It’s a combination that
works well with darker game meats.
With salads, everything should be
made to taste. Don’t be surprised if
you find yourself having to tweak the
amounts below. For the salad mix, feel
free to use whatever you like. I used
a combination of Italian blend and
arugula. I like the combination of crisp
romaine and peppery arugula.
Servings: 2
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients:
2 to 4 duck breasts
Kosher salt
Freshly cracked pepper
Olive oil
4 ounces Stilton cheese
Thinly sliced red onion
Two servings of ready-to-eat
lettuce mix
1 pear, sliced
Candied walnuts
Dressing:
1 small shallot, minced
4 tbs. good balsamic vinegar
2 tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Generous pinch of salt
1
⁄4 to 1⁄2 tsp. granulated sugar, to
taste
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
1. To make the salad dressing,
combine dressing ingredients in a
canning jar with lid. Before serving,
give it a good shake to emulsify.
2. Pat duck breasts dry with paper
towels. Season duck breasts with salt
14
Seared duck breast over a salad with pears and Stilton cheese.
and pepper. If skin is removed, heat
oil in a skillet over medium-high heat,
and when oil starts shimmering, cook
breasts for about 3 minutes on each
side, including the thicker side edge.
Shoot for an internal temperature of
137 degrees Fahrenheit for medium.
Allow breasts to rest loosely tented
with foil to carry over cooking to 140 F.
If breasts have fatty skin intact,
lightly score the fat. Then add breasts
skin side down first into a cold pan.
Turn heat to medium-high and cook
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY
the skin until browned and rendered.
Cook the remaining sides for about
3 minutes each, looking for the
same internal temperature as noted
previously. Add oil if skin is lean.
3. In a mixing bowl, toss lettuce with
balsamic dressing to taste and divide
salad between two plates. Garnish
salad with crumbled Stilton cheese,
sliced pear, red onion and candied
walnuts. Thinly slice duck breasts
against the grain and offer finishing
salt on the side.
2 0 23
Photo
Contest
BEST OF SHOW
Lego Aviary
Photo by Chris Bergstrom, Blair
@chriscosmosphotography
16
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
Since Nebraskaland Magazine’s photo
contest began, we have seen tens of
thousands of images, but none as unique
as Chris Bergstrom’s Best in Show winner,
“Lego Aviary.”
The image made our team laugh and also
brought into discussion how much planning
must have been done to capture this
photograph.
“It took me hundreds of shots,” Chris said.
“I have a passion to shoot night skies, but,
two years ago, we had a baby and was around
the house a lot more. I had to fill that need to
take pictures.”
He did so by combining his passion for
Legos — he is a self-described Lego “nerd”
— with his extreme attention to detail. “I
would see a lot of house sparrows landing in
our yard, so I slowly took away landing spots,
such as patio chairs, so I could direct exactly
where I wanted birds to land.”
Then Chris put a pile of bird seed on the
ground, his Lego characters nearby, and
decorated the background with dandelions.
From there, it was simply a matter of
patience.
“I work from home,” Chris said, “so I have
my camera hooked up to a remote from my
desk in my basement and, while I worked, I
took these photos.”
Chris also captured our imagination of
what can be done in your own backyard.
To see more of his images, visit his
Instagram page @chriscosmosphotography.
We thank everyone who participated in
this year’s contest and look forward to seeing
our wonderful state through your eyes next
year.
Happy shooting.
Jeff Kurrus, Editor
Nebraskaland Magazine
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
17
SCENIC
FIRST PLACE — Rime Ice Sunshine Eagle
Photo by Jeffrey Z. Carney, Ashland
@carneyphotography1
18
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
19
SCENIC
SECOND PLACE — Toadstool Splendor
Photo by Margaret West, Omaha
@westmargaretblock
THIRD PLACE — Standing Bear Clouds
Photo by Jayson Alder, Omaha
@alderimages
20
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
21
MACRO
FIRST PLACE — Peek-a-boo Beetle
Photo by Kristin Hartner, Omaha
@kristin_hartner_photography
22
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
23
MACRO
THIRD PLACE — Evening Snack
Photo by Ellen Hanzlicek, Dubois
@hanzlicekellen
SECOND PLACE — Lasioglossum on Heuchera
Photo by Tyler Moore
@drtylermoore
24
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
25
RECREATION
FIRST PLACE — Young Angler
Photo by Chris Bergstrom, Blair
@chriscosmosphotography
26
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
27
RECREATION
THIRD PLACE — Burn Off
Photo by Matt Zvolanek, Ogallala
@mericamut
SECOND PLACE — Holding the Universe Together
Photo by Ben Placzek, Omaha
@bplaczekphoto
28
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
29
WILDLIFE
FIRST PLACE — Chicken Tag
Photo by Don Brockmeier, Eustis
@donbrockmeier4
30
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
31
WILDLIFE
SECOND PLACE — Curious Young Fox
Photo by Roger Richters, Utica
@rogerrichters
THIRD PLACE — Monarchs Delight
Photo by Deb Miller, Aurora
@11husky
32
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
33
Nebraska’s
Only
Marsupial
By Monica Macoubrie,
Wildlife Education Specialist
W
ith a nearly hairless, scaly tail, a mouth full of
teeth, the ability to “play dead” and its overall
I-don’t-give-a-dang attitude, the opossum might
be one of the most unique mammals waddling throughout
Nebraska.
Opossums are Marsupials
The Virginia opossum is a marsupial. When many of us
think of marsupials, we picture a kangaroo jumping with a
joey in the front pouch. However, there are quite a few other
species that bear the name marsupial, including wombats,
koalas and opossums. Being a marsupial simply means that
females have a pouch, and the underdeveloped young must
spend time in this pouch to complete development.
Once born, the offspring immediately seeks the mother’s
pouch. When compared to a kangaroo, the pouch of an
opossum is quite small, so small it would be difficult for the
casual observer to spot. Young will not leave this pouch until
they reach maturity. When siblings grow too large to fit in the
mother’s pouch, they cling to the mother’s back, where she
will carry them until they are able to venture on their own.
Playing Opossum
Opossums play dead, we know, but a lot of misinformation
is out there on how and why they do this. Opossums do not
engage in this behavior when they feel threatened.
They typically “play opossum” in situations when they
are caught unaware or suddenly attacked. The animal drops
to the ground in an instant and closes its eyes or stares off
into space. Its body goes limp, its breathing slows down
drastically, it discharges its bowels, and it sticks out its
tongue and drools. By all means, it appears to be dead.
34
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
A Virginia opossum climbs a tree near Cherry Creek at Fort Robinson State Park.
This defense tactic is supposed to confuse predators and
allow the animal to escape.
While worthy of an Oscar, this is not an act. These animals
are going through a process called thanatosis: when the
body enters a catatonic state in response to fear, and it’s all
involuntary. During this time, the animal doesn’t feel any
pain and has no reflexes. The animal will not respond no
matter what the predator does.
Most predators will give up on an opossum once they
believe it has died. Scientists believe this is an evolutionary
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
adaptation among carnivores to prevent them from
consuming diseased meat. So, what happens to the opossum?
Well, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to several
hours for the opossum to become mobile again.
Prehensile Tails, Sort of
A Virginia opossum is around the size of a large house
cat. It has a triangular-shaped head, a long, pointed nose,
is mostly covered in grayish fur, and it has a tail, which is
In Nebraska, the common distribution of opossums is shown
in brown, less common shown in gold. TIM REIGERT, NEBRASKALAND
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
35
an opossum to contract this disease. Compared to other
mammals, some scientists think the opossum’s slightly lower
body temperature makes it hard for viruses to survive in its
host. An opossum’s normal temperature is around 95 degrees
Fahrenheit compared to a dog’s, which is around 101 to 102.5
degrees. Rabies is much more common in animals such as
raccoons, foxes and skunks.
Opossum Teeth
Boasting 50 teeth, the opossum has more than any other
land mammal. In its mouth are four kinds of teeth: incisors
and canines for gripping and tearing, molars to crush their
food and pre-molars for slicing.
Opossums are considered omnivores, which means they
will eat other animals and also plant material. Their teeth
help them do everything from tearing apart prey to crushing
tough nuts and seeds, and they have to be strong enough to
handle different textures and hardness. Opossums also use
their front incisors to precisely pick up small insects.
Their teeth can be used as a defense against predators,
as well. On average, the opossum’s bite force is around 45
pounds per square inch, in comparison to a raccoon, which
has a bite force of about 100 pounds per square inch.
Opossums are extremely misunderstood and often
misrepresented in discussion. Many people believe they are
ugly, strange, unintelligent and useless, but just like every
other animal in the ecosystem, opossums have a place.
So, the next time you see these waddling marsupials, give
them a wave and remember all these cool opossum facts. N
Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) from the viviparous quadrupeds of North America (1845) illustrated by John Woodhouse
Audubon (1812-1862). NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
prehensile. A prehensile tail is adapted for grasping and
wrapping around things like tree limbs. Although it is a
myth opossums hang by their tails to sleep, they can grasp
a branch with their tails for short periods of time. Their tails
simply aren’t strong enough to hold them for longer than a
few minutes.
Opossum Feet
These animals have what’s called an opposable hallux.
Hallux are clawless, big toes that work like thumbs. The
hallux helps this creature grab branches when they climb. So,
when they leave tracks in the snow, it looks like a miniature
child, or an alien, was walking around the prairie.
They’re Intelligent
Opossum brains are only around one-sixth the size of a
raccoon and one-fifth the size of a domestic house cat, giving
36
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
them one of the lowest brain-to-body ratios of any mammal.
They also have a very smooth brain, lacking the network of
folds and grooves seen in more “intelligent species.” They lack
a structure known as the corpus callosum, which connects
the two halves of the brain. The corpus callosum is larger in
more intelligent animals, and in humans, the absence of this
structure would be considered a serious birth defect and is
associated with a high rate of learning disabilities.
Despite all this, opossums excel at intelligence tests. In
one study, scientists hid food for opossums to find, and
their ability to remember was higher than cats, rats, dogs
and rabbits. In another study, opossums demonstrated they
can solve maze puzzles faster than cats and rats. Scientists
have also documented the opossum’s ability to recall specific
smells a full year after being exposed to them.
Rare for Rabies
Any mammal can get rabies, but it is less likely for
A Virginia opossum in Cass County.
January-February 2024 •
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Nebraskaland
37
Funding from the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation helped build this minilodge at Ponca State Park. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
I
f you love Nebraska’s natural beauty, wildlife, wide open
spaces and unique recreational resources, the Nebraska
Game and Parks Foundation is a perfect way to show
your appreciation — and ensure that others continue to enjoy
Nebraska’s outdoors today and for generations to come.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation was established to
accept tax-deductible contributions of cash, corporate gifts,
personal property, life estates and real estate to enhance the work
of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission — necessary work
that simply cannot be accomplished with limited state funds.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation is an organization of
Nebraskans for Nebraskans — focused on the future of parks,
wildlife and fisheries management, conservation and education in
our state. Your tax-deductible contribution to the Foundation — in
any amount — helps care for and preserve the outdoor resources
that make Nebraska special.
38
Nebraskaland
• January-February 2024
At the Core
C ELEBRATING 40 Y EARS OF THE
N EBRASKA G AME AND P ARKS
F OUNDATION
By Jeff Kurrus
C
ore values. The Nebraska Game and Parks has
many. Access. Opportunity. Stewardship. Providing
opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, biking,
camping and outdoor education and recreation. They
have an economic value of $3.8 billion in our state.
These activities are the backbone of introducing Nebraskans,
and visitors alike, to the outdoors and keeping them outdoors,
and the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation is a central
figure in each of these.
Established in 1983, the vision for the Nebraska Game and
Parks Foundation was to take the work by the Nebraska Game
and Parks Commission to the next level, enhancing a myriad
of projects when limited state funds could not.
But it’s not just completing the projects that’s important.
It’s the value of these projects to those whom we serve — the
public — when the value of the Foundation’s contributions are
seen in moments and memories.
Here are some of their stories.
We’re Staying Here Forever
Tucker Urbanovsky, of Arnold, loves to fish. Always has. His
parents think he always will. Admittedly, that might be hard
to say, as Tucker is only 4 years old, but his relationship with
the outdoors only continues to grow, so his parents seem to
think this is a safe assumption.
“No,” he told his parents on a recent fishing and camping
trip. “I’m not leaving. We’re staying here forever.”
“He asks to go fishing all the time,” said his mom, Tori.
One of Tucker’s first introductions to the outdoors was
the Fort Kearny Outdoor Expo when he was 6 months old. In
the Urbanovsky family
archive, there is a photo
with him holding a
fishing pole.
At this young age,
he has already picked
out his favorite quarry,
y, channel
catfish, and has no problem
em touching the fish,
de-hooking the fish and eating
his d
dad,
ti a fish
h nuggett or ttwo hi
d
Brent, fries after their good fortune.
When he’s not fishing, he’s watching coyote hunting videos
with his dad and hoping to go on his first coyote hunt, like his
8-year-old sister, Daneo, and 7-year-old brother, Will, have
done.
So with these three nature kids — as well as 2-year-old
Sunny and 7-month-old Eva, Tori took it upon herself to apply
for a half-price youth lifetime permit anytime she could.
“We get emails [from the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission] about the drawings, and I enter them all,” she
said. Recently, her persistence worked out when Tucker
received a half-price youth lifetime permit.
This is where the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation
comes in. The Foundation established the half-price Youth
Lifetime Permit program in 2006 by creating an endowment to
introduce and even re-engage kids to the outdoors. Drawings
for Nebraska youth 15 and younger are held throughout the
state at partner events, public events and online, as seen
with the Urbanovsky family. Winners of these drawings can
purchase a lifetime hunting and fishing permit for half price,
with the Foundation funding the other half.
Since the program began, the Foundation has provided
funds for more than 9,000 lifetime permits like Tucker’s, and
Tori certainly won’t stop filling out entry forms for the rest of
the kids in their family anytime soon — just as the Foundation
wants it.
With Foundation assistance, Ponca State Park’s aquatic center replaced a pool originally opened in 1956.
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
Five Quilters and a Wayward
Scrapbooker
The Urbanovsky family from Arnold puts their kids’ names
in for a chance to win a lifetime hunt/fish permit every year.
This year, their 4-year-old son, Tucker, won the permit.
JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
Nebraskaland
If you walk into the Bison mini-lodge at Ponca State Park
when Sarah Johnson, of Geneva, and her quilting friends and
family are visiting, it’s hard not to notice the unique furniture
arrangement. Couches, chairs and tables are pushed against
the wall replaced by a line of working tables — each topped
with sewing machines and cutting mats.
Since 2006, Johnson’s group — coming from Syracuse and
Geneva, Nebraska, to Rapid City, South Dakota, and all parts
in between — has taken up temporary residence at one of the
cabins at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park or, most recently, one
of the mini-lodges at Ponca State Park.
“The same six of us go every year,” said Johnson. “This year,
I was sitting at my computer at 12 a.m. on the first day the
lodge was available at Ponca so I could get our reservation. We
• The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation
The Bison mini-lodge at Ponca fills every fall with a group
of quilting friends from across the region. Because of the
Foundation, friends and family are able to get together and
do what they love to do. PHOTO COURTESY OF SARAH JOHNSON
work on our projects, talk and eat. Five of us are quilters and
we have one scrapbooker who we’re slowly converting into a
quilter.”
The Foundation’s fingerprint on the construction of the
mini-lodges at Ponca, as well as the Governor’s Row minilodges at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, has been immense,
raising millions of dollars to build them. But their work at
either park isn’t limited to these projects.
At Ponca, funds from the Foundation also established the
aquatic center, replacing a relic originally opened in 1956. From
locals wanting an afternoon dip at the pool to out-of-towners
marking Ponca as a vacation destination, the aquatic center is
just one more reason to visit this northeastern Nebraska park
jewel.
At Eugene T. Mahoney State Park, the Foundation’s reach is
just as profound. From the purchase of the property in 1985
to the recently completed Crete Carrier Riverview Lodge, as
well as the upcoming raging river water slide addition to the
aquatic center, the Foundation remains the center point for
completing any number of projects.
But the Foundation’s work stretches beyond the projects
themselves, as seen from Johnson and her group of quilters
regardless of where they travel. This is how traditions start.
And local businesses benefit because of these traditions. For,
as Sarah Johnson and her group know all too well, if you’re
going to visit Ponca State Park, you must visit the soda
fountain at nearby Keller Drug as well. Yet not before hiking
or driving throughout the winding roads at Ponca — looking
for deer or visiting one of the park’s scenic overlooks of the
Missouri River valley, their time at Ponca becoming their
lodge away from home.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation •
Nebraskaland
Visiting the touch tank is a high priority for many visitors at
the Schramm Education Center. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Since its completion in 2015, Fort Robinson State Park’s 1891 Officers Quarters has become
a destination for large groups looking for an authentic Western lodging experience. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Only Once Before
Alex Marx cools off at Platte River State Park’s spray park,
another Foundation project. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Nebraskaland
Matthew Marx has lived in Omaha for nearly his entire
life. He’s married and has two grade-school-aged sons, Alex
and William, whose day-to-day calendar — especially in the
summer — is jam-packed with anything associated with
nature.
From forest hikes to playing at Platte River State Park’s
spray park, the Marxes are an outdoor family. That said, it
would make perfect sense for him to have visited Aksarben
Aquarium, adjacent to Schramm Park SRA, at some point
during his life — but that just wasn’t the case.
“I went one time as a kid,” he said.
That all changed with the aquarium’s renovation to the
Schramm Education Center, which opened in 2019. “Once the
new one was built, we were there all the time.” He and his boys
have spent hours at the new aquarium, buying season passes
so they could do arts and crafts, ride the virtual reality bikes,
and participate in their favorite family outdoor activity: pet
• The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation
the aquarium’s shovelnose sturgeon.
“What’s also nice about the new aquarium is that it’s all
Nebraska species. The boys can learn about the stuff that lives
here, not in some faraway saltwater sea.”
Before the renovations, Schramm primarily welcomed
visitors on a seasonal basis. Now, thanks to being part of the
Venture Parks project in association with the Nebraska Game
and Parks Foundation, that number of visitors has tripled,
including increased year-round visitation.
And for good reason. Matt is not the only person who grew
up in eastern Nebraska and spent very little, if any time, at the
old aquarium. But he’s also not the only person who has found
a new place to learn about nature in his own backyard — at
Schramm Education Center.
The Best Kind of Friend
“Friends disappoint you,” said Loretta Asche, drawing
laughter from herself. “But vacation friends do not. At least …
mine don’t.”
Asche’s vacation friends have been with her for nearly 30
years at Fort Robinson State Park at their group’s annual trail
ride each September. Originally conducted by the Painthorse
Association, this ride is now organized by Asche and gets a
group of longtime “vacation” friends together who have one
thing in common — horses.
“These people are better than friends,” she said fondly. They
come from all over the country — from Wisconsin to Maryland,
and for many years they would stay all over northwestern
Nebraska.
But for the past five years, since its completion in 2015,
they’ve taken up temporary residence at Fort Robinson State
Park’s 1891 Officers Quarters.
With help from the Foundation, these Quarters are a direct
replica of the original building, constructed in 1891, making
them perfect for large groups of people like Asche’s. “We have
enough beds for 18 people,” she said. “Four bedrooms. Four
bathrooms. And a large area for meetings and meals. It’s so
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation •
Nebraskaland
Even More Impacts
The Foundation’s role in providing additional
opportunities to Nebraska’s outdoor enthusiasts
goes even further than updated facilities and new
properties to access.
With each hunting or fishing permit sold,
Nebraska receives excise tax money through
the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson acts,
respectively. This includes lifetime hunting and
fishing permits.
In addition, when hunting and fishing equipment
is sold, excise tax money is received. So when a
hunter becomes even more excited to venture into
the field, because of a new place to go, and visits
Cabela’s, Scheels or another local outdoor retailer,
even more opportunities can be funded for current
and future hunters and anglers.
To donate yourself, keep these in mind:
Contributions are tax deductible.
Gifts can include small or large financial
contributions, natural areas, historic places, or
donations for park facilities.
Contributions can be designated to a particular
project or area of the state.
For more information on the Foundation and how
to give, visit nebraskagameandparksfoundation.org.
•
•
The Foundation provides financial assistance to Game and Parks’ Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program.
•
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
nice because we have so much space. We visit each year for
five days,” Asche said. “But it feels like it’s over in a day. We’ve
become such good friends.”
The Foundation remains a supporter of Community Fishing
Nights across the state, including this one in Omaha.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
Places to Go
The 1891 Officers Quarters at Fort Robinson gives equestrians
like Mike and Jill Angelo a place to stay near some of the best
horseback riding in the state.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LORETTA ASCHE
Nebraskaland
“Access is No. 1,” said Andre Miller of Omaha, who spends any
moment of free time near the water with a clutch of fishing rods
and reels in his hand and a tacklebox slung over his shoulder.
He’s always looking for a new place and, once there, where
he should start fishing. “Folks have their spots,” he said. “Moms
and daughters. Dads and sons. Folks just want to be outside.”
Being outside, and having access, is growing even easier
throughout Nebraska with the construction of fishing piers,
and the Foundation remains important at providing these
access points. The Foundation has provided funding for piers
at Mahoney State Park and Johnson Lake SRA, and Two Rivers
SRA west of Omaha will have a new fishing pier in 2024 as a
memorial donation for a beloved family member who recently
passed away.
“Families go to those docks,” Miller said. “They’re such easy
access for parents.” Meanwhile, anglers like Miller have more of
the shoreline to fish once these are installed.
But it’s not just access at a public lake that interests folks like
Miller, it’s having somewhere entirely new to fish, hunt, hike,
bike, or just simply, be. Throughout the Foundation’s 40 years,
land acquisition to create public access also has remained a high
priority. Either by maintaining relationships with landowners
who believe in the mission of Game and Parks and the
Foundation and donate land or, through their estate planning,
• The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation
The Wildcat Hills State Nature Center offers educational opportunities, including birdwatching and banding workshops and
the Outdoor Discovery Program, for visitors of all ages. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation •
Nebraskaland
Accessible fishing piers create more opportunities to enjoy
Nebraska’s tremendous fishing opportunities. Andre Miller,
of Omaha, fishes from one at Louisville SRA.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
The Crete Carrier Riverview Lodge and Mahoney State Park hosts large group outings — from weddings to conferences and
everything in between — and Foundation support was integral in its construction. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
Nebraskaland
• The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation
set aside and gift property to the Foundation for eventual public
access, or for purchasing properties outright with these donated
funds.
In recent years, 57 acres were purchased next to Kearny
SRA. In Dawes County, 680 acres were purchased, while in
Custer County, a 720-acre Life Estate tract will be received as a
donation to the Foundation in the future. In the past 10 years,
a Foundation endowment has helped with a total of seven
acquisitions. Memorial donations, estates and wills are ways
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation •
Nebraskaland
Funding Opportunity
When it is determined that funding is needed for
a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission project,
representatives from Game and Parks approach
the Foundation. The Foundation then makes a
decision if and how much to contribute.
Take, for example, the recent and ongoing multifaceted Venture Parks project. The Game and Parks
approached the Foundation with a vision and need
to reinvest and update outdoor recreation and
education opportunities in four existing parks —
Mahoney, Platte River, Louisville and Schramm —
along the Platte River between Omaha and Lincoln.
The Foundation decided to support this effort,
which identified more than 60 features in its master
plan, designed to encourage people to venture
outdoors, creating lifelong memories and establish
the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts. The
project was going to require support from the
Nebraska Legislature and governor.
As Game and Parks Assistant Director
Roger Kuhn tells it, the trip to the Capitol was
memorable. “John Gottschalk, a director serving on
the Foundation, walks into the state capitol, where
senators on the appropriations committee have
been listening to people ask for money all day, for
multiple days.
“After sitting for several hours waiting his turn,
John testifies to the appropriations committee
hearing and says, ‘I’m here representing the
Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation and I’m
here to give you money.’”
The Foundation’s plan was to raise $28 million of
the estimated $35 million project cost, asking the
Nebraska Legislature and Game and Parks to fund
the rest.
Twenty-four months later, with the help of many
generous donors, ground was broken for the first
Venture Parks projects. In 2024, the last Venture
Parks project will be completed.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation,
and its generous supporters, does so much more
than provide the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission financial support. It helps the agency
meet its mission as stewards of the public’s natural
resources, parklands and recreational opportunities.
“The Foundation and its generous donors make
Nebraska’s outdoors better, today and for future
generations,” said Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission Director Tim McCoy. “This supports our
goals of engaging Nebraskans and our visitors of all
ages in nature and outdoor recreation.”
that people and families have given back to Nebraska, creating
a legacy that future generations can appreciate and enjoy.
But to be honest, Miller and a lot of outdoor enthusiasts
like him don’t always know how these new access points and
Nebraskaland
Anglers at Johnson Lake State Recreation Area access newly constructed fishing piers.
JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
properties appear, but they are surely happy when they do. And
when told that Two Rivers SRA will soon have a new pier to
either fish from or watch others fish from, Miller responded in a
way that explains all of the work the Foundation does.
“Wow.”
Whether a person is quilting or kayaking, horseback riding
or hunting, the Foundation is helping to make these moments
happen. The gracious donors want people to enjoy the outdoors,
and have a variety of ways to do that. They want the outdoors
to be a huge part of their futures, and definitely want them to
retain their pasts.
“Nebraska’s quality of life is greatly improved by providing
public places and access to hunt, fish and experience
our beautiful, family-friendly parks and recreation areas
statewide,” said Foundation Chairman Jim Abel. “This is one of
the reasons why the Foundation supports the agency’s mission
and facilitates projects that benefit all Nebraskans, now and for
future generations to come.”
With this mindset, it’s no surprise that the Foundation, with
its successful and long-lasting projects, would have one final
question on their mind.
What’s next? N
• The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation
Opposite: Jim Abel has served as chairman for the Nebraska
Game and Parks Foundation for nearly 20 years.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation •
Nebraskaland
Even More Foundation Contributions
It’s hard to summarize the meaning of the Foundation to the mission of the Game and Parks Commission,
when their fingerprints can be found on so many outdoor-related projects. Here are a few more that the
Foundation has assisted on statewide.
Harold Andersen Visitors Center at Fort Atkinson
State Historical Park. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
Picnic structure at Chadron State Park.
The nearly completed Treehouse Classroom at
Schramm Park State Recreation Area.
Family-friendly shooting parks statewide, including
this one at Platte River State Park.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
“At the Core” was printed in the January-February 2024 issue of
Nebraskaland Magazine, published by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Additional copies of this publication can be requested by contacting Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation,
P.O. Box 24470, Omaha, NE 68124-0470
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, veteran status,
marital status, and/or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment. 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 Nebraska Equal Opportunity Commission, Lincoln, NE 402-471-2024, TTY/TDD 800-642-6112; Director, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Civil Rights, U.S. Department of
Interior, 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20240.
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• January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
51
Outdoor Nebraska
By Renae Blum
We are still in winter’s frigid grip, but spring is on the horizon,
and the outdoors still holds many worthwhile possibilities. Keep
reading for a few ideas to beat the winter blues. N
What to Do in January and February
Photograph ice
bubbles
Throughout the month
Statewide
The abstract shapes of air bubbles
trapped in frozen lakes, ponds, puddles
and waterfalls can make an intriguing
photo subject. Search the water’s edge
to find plants and insects frozen in the
ice. A polarizing filter can cut down
on reflections and glare, and watch
your exposure, as large, light areas can
cause underexposure.
CHRIS HELZER
Try the sledding hill at
Chadron State Park
As weather allows | Chadron
Enjoy gorgeous Pine Ridge scenery in a different way — from a sled! Chadron
State Park’s designated sledding hill, located in the western section of the
park, is a popular place for winter fun. It provides a steep 200-to-300-yard
downhill run with no trees to worry about, plus a parking lot close by. Find the
sledding hill location on the park map.
Attend Discover Ice-Fishing
Jan. 13 | Norfolk
Learn the basics of ice-fishing or pick up a few new tips from
experienced anglers. A classroom event specifically for beginners and
families will be from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a free, on-ice event
at Skyview Lake from 1-4 p.m. Go to one or both sessions. To learn
more and register for the classroom event — or find other Discover IceFishing events this month — visit Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov.
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Hunt for cottontails
Season runs through Feb. 29 | Statewide
Rabbits are great-tasting and easy to clean — and
hunting them with a rimfire allows you to hone your
tracking and observation skills. Head out when there’s
snow on the ground and look for tracks leading to
a hiding spot, typically brush piles or overgrown
hedgerows. Then flush the rabbit out. Rabbits often
pause to look back before slipping back undercover.
That’s the time to take your shot.
Listen for great horned owls
January and February | Statewide
Great horned owls are one of the earliest breeding birds in
Nebraska, and in January and February, you can hear them
calling between dusk and dawn, either seeking a mate
or communicating with one they already have. It’s a low
hooting sound, typically a “who-hoo-ho-oo” or “who-ho-o-o,
whoo-hoo-o-o, whoo.” If there are trees nearby, you have
a chance of hearing them — so you may not even need to
leave your neighborhood.
ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
52
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
53
Harleigh Lisius of Juanita hunts pheasants
at Oak Creek Sporting Club in Brainard.
The hunt was sponsored by Becoming an
Outdoors-Woman and Pheasants Forever.
Learn to Hunt
JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
One young woman’s journey to becoming a hunter
By Jenny Nguyen-Wheatley
arleigh Lisius wasn’t born into a hunting family, but
she always knew she wanted to do it. The daughter
of a fourth-generation farmer, the 23-year-old grew up
among cattle, corn and beans near Juniata and spent
countless hours playing in the shelterbelt on the farm, fishing
her grandparents’ pond or camping.
Every Thanksgiving, highly-anticipated visits from her
aunt and uncle brought exciting tales of the couple’s lives as
wildlife biologists in Minnesota. Harleigh also marveled at
the wild game they shared.
“I never got to experience hunting as a kid, but was
constantly hearing about my aunt and uncle going hunting,”
Harleigh said. “They’d always bring back smoked goose and
venison for us during Thanksgiving, and it was great. I really
wanted to experience that and be able to gather food for
myself.”
Outside of an unsuccessful turkey hunt with a neighbor in
2018, which showed Harleigh just how much she loved to sit
quietly and watch wildlife, her hunting aspirations wouldn’t
be realized until several years later. Without a mentor,
Harleigh felt hesitant to pick up the sport on her own, but
that didn’t stop her from pursuing a career in conservation
in the meantime.
H
spine as the chickens started cackling back and forth at
each other.”
Harleigh’s visit to Minnesota solidified her college plans.
After earning her associate degree at Central Community
College, she transferred to the University of NebraskaLincoln to pursue a fisheries and wildlife degree — and she
hit the ground running. She soon signed up for a Pheasants
Forever summer internship in 2021, a partnership with the
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and the Natural
Resources Conservation Service. Harleigh received training
in checking Conservation Reserve Program acres and other
government-contracted ground.
“I had no plant identification knowledge before that,
Career Pursuits
After graduating high school, Aunt Becky and Uncle Jason
sagely invited Harleigh to visit them in Minnesota. She
expressed a real interest in wildlife conservation, and her
relatives thought it would be a good idea for her to spend a
couple of weeks job shadowing them in the field — Becky
works with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
as a wildlife manager, and Jason is a prescribed-fire burn boss
with the state.
While there, Harleigh received firefighter training with
Uncle Jason and conducted wildlife surveys with Aunt Becky.
“I spent some time with my aunt doing grouse surveys.
I also helped with some snowshoe hare surveys, which
was really hands-on,” she said. “I got to spend my first
night in a prairie-chicken blind. It was absolutely amazing
just sitting there and feeling the chill running up my
54
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
Lisius takes a selfie while out checking Conservation
Reserve Program acres. HARLEIGH LISIUS
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
55
Women on the Wing
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Women
on the Wing is an initiative to encourage more
women to gather and collaborate in the hunting
and outdoor space.
Events across the country include field days
to engage female landowners in conservation;
Women, Wine and Wild Game events to build
community; women’s learn-to-hunt events; wing
shooting clinics; and public land hunting days.
Many of the offerings are made possible through
partnerships with state agencies and organizations.
“Since 2017, we’ve hosted 332 women’s events
across the country with 5,383 participants,” said
Ashley Chance, hunting heritage program manager
at Pheasants Forever.
To get involved, check out the events calendar:
bit.ly/3R94wgi
Additionally, take advantage of Pheasant
Forever’s How to Hunt Upland Birds film series,
which showcases five hunters as they give lessons
on how to hunt across the country. The online
course is free and covers the basics of equipment,
technique, safety and more.
pheasantsforever.org/howtohunt
Lisius, second from left, mounts her shotgun as a pheasant flushes at
Oak Creek Sporting Club in Brainard. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
Lisius practices shooting clay targets with mentor Christy
Christiansen before a pheasant hunt at Oak Creek Sporting
Club in Brainard. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND
outside of what was considered a ‘weed’ on the farm. So, I
got hands-on training, and we were out in the field all day. I
would hike from pivot corner to pivot corner on plots all over
Stanton County,” Harleigh said. “I got to work with some
really amazing people.”
56
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
Additionally, she assisted with goose banding and helped
with events to promote prescribed burning and its benefits.
“That was really cool to see communities come together
and be encouraged by the possibilities of the different ways
of managing [land],” Harleigh said, and she’s had similar
conversations with her father on implementing changes on
the family farm. “My dad is very supportive. I’ve actually
been talking with him about different options that we could
use on the farm — maybe doing cover crop and putting
corners into CRP.”
Since Harleigh’s internship with Pheasants Forever,
she has worked at Two Rivers State Recreation Area and
received training to become a park naturalist. Additionally,
she received her Master Naturalist certification in 2022. She
currently works as an archery and firearms instructor at the
Turpin Outdoor Education Center in Lincoln.
It was through Harleigh’s work with Game and Parks that
her next hunting opportunity finally unfolded.
Mentorship
While working the Missouri River Outdoor Expo, Harleigh
connected with Christy Christiansen, a Game and Parks
outdoor education specialist, who told her about the
Becoming an Outdoors-Woman program.
In October 2022, Harleigh attended the Ladies’ Learn to
Pheasant Hunt program at Oak Creek Sporting Club near
Brainard. The three-day event was sponsored by BOW and
Pheasants Forever’s Women on the Wing initiative. Pheasant
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
57
guided me in the right direction,” she said. “It was also
really nice to hunt with other ladies, too, who either had no
experience or maybe had some but were trying to get back
into hunting. The connections were awesome in meeting
women from all walks of life.”
Lifelong Conservationist
Since the pheasant hunt, Harleigh was invited to hunt
waterfowl near Lexington. As an inexperienced waterfowler,
Harleigh took advantage of Nebraska’s new two-tier program
and opted for Tier II, which allowed her a three-duck limit with
no species and sex restrictions. She shot her limit of mallards
that day, one of which she sent to a taxidermist to mount.
In January 2023, Harleigh attended another BOW program
to hunt deer during the late river antlerless season. She hunted
on private property near Brady with Geiser and was successful
in shooting her first deer, a white-tailed doe. The hunt was
memorable because Harleigh took her great-grandfather’s
.308.
“It was special because I know my grandpa has shot deer
with that rifle,” she said. Afterward, Christiansen invited
Harleigh and a couple of other mentees to a “processing day,”
when they learned how to break down the quarters of the
Becoming an
Outdoors-Woman
Nebraska’s BOW offers a variety of outdoor
workshops, clinics and camps throughout the year.
Come learn something new or improve existing
skills, including shooting, hunting, kayaking,
fishing, ecological education and more. Nebraska
Game and Parks also offers women-only hunter
education courses.
To view events, visit bit.ly/3MPrUNh.
deer into different cuts of venison.
Today, Harleigh takes every chance she gets to sit in a blind,
whether to view sandhill cranes or prairie-chickens with her
camera or to hunt with a gun. Career-wise, she has taken
interest in conservation photography and communications.
Harleigh is set to graduate this spring with a degree in
fisheries and wildlife, and wherever her passion ends up
taking her in conservation and/or in hunting, she will be one
to watch. N
During a mentored Beyond Becoming an Outdoors-Woman deer hunt in Lincoln County, Lisius waits in a pop-up blind with
her rifle and checks the height of her monopod. JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
hunting would prove to be the perfect initiation — Harleigh
had experience shooting trap with her boyfriend, who shoots
competitively.
“I felt so excited to shoot my first bird — the almost shaky
anticipation of waiting for the bird to pop up, and when it
does, it’s almost like watching it in slow motion, and sweeping
your barrel over the bird to just the right spot so that you can
really hit it. And then watching the poof of feathers as it falls
and kind of being in shock that, ‘I got it!’ I believe I hit two
pheasants and a chukar that day,” she said.
The hunt gave Harleigh confidence where she felt lost or
58
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
overwhelmed before. She felt lucky to be guided by Game and
Parks’ Christy Christiansen and Julie Geiser.
“It was great to walk into the field with them and have
them give me advice, in saying ‘slow down’ or ‘stop,’ ‘wait’
and ‘look that direction,’ and helping me spot things that I
wouldn’t have necessarily spotted as a new hunter,” Harleigh
said. She also learned how to clean and take apart birds,
which had been a mystery. BOW and Women on the Wing
instructors broke down every aspect of upland hunting, stepby-step.
“They made me feel like I wasn’t so unknowing, and they
Lisius shot a doe during the late-season hunt and learned how to skin and process her deer as part of the Beyond Becoming
an Outdoors-Woman program. JULIE GEISER, NEBRASKALAND
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
59
Saloon-Smashing
Carrie Nation in
Nebraska
Stickpin
engraved
with the
words,
“Carry
A. Nation
Hatchet.”
Nation sold
these for a dime
as a fundraiser. She
gave this one to a
railroad station agent
at a telegraph office in
Exeter, Nebraska.
HISTORY NEBRASKA, 10376-1
By David L. Bristow, History Nebraska
I
picture” she didn’t like, in the words of the Lincoln Courier.
magine that you are in a bar in the early 1900s — a glass
Days later, the mayor of Blair refused to let the Kansan
of cold beer in your hand, a spittoon within easy spitting
speak at the city opera house, saying, “We have enough
distance on the hardwood floor, and a racy painting of
trouble of our own, without importing any more.” But Nation
some unclothed beauty hanging on the wall.
spoke at Boyd’s Opera House
You turn at the sound of a
in Omaha, a city she called a
woman’s voice singing hymns,
“Hell-hole of iniquity.” Sipping
and in walks a mature woman
from a “pitcher of light-brown
in a long, black dress. Standing
Missouri River water,” Nation
nearly 6 feet tall, she wields
“shot ragged holes in the
a hatchet and has fire in her
social system, upset theology,
spectacled eyes.
ripped politics up the back, and
And then she starts smashing
with a well-primed charge of
the place up until she is tackled
verbal dynamite blew up the
and hauled away by police.
government in Washington,”
Starting in 1900, Carrie
according to the Omaha Bee.
Nation became a household
“You business men here that
name for her fanatical (she
want saloons are nursing the
agreed with that word)
adder in your bosoms that will
opposition to alcohol. The
sting you,” she said. “You men
55-year-old
Kansan
spent
can vote it out, and you women
much of early 1902 crusading
can smash it out.”
in Nebraska.
The
City
of
Lincoln,
In March, some saloons in
meanwhile, was seriously
Fullerton and Hastings locked
considering a local prohibition
their doors as soon as Nation
ordinance, and Nation went
arrived in their town. One
there to campaign for it. When
Hastings bar owner probably
it failed in a close vote, she
wished he had done likewise
blamed local resident William
after Nation “grabbed a chunk
Jennings Bryan — recent
of ice from a dish of olives” and
presidential nominee and the
“slammed it through” a “breezy
Carrie Nation in 1903. NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY
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Nebraskaland
• January-February 2024
William Young Saloon, 416 S. 15th St., Omaha.
HISTORY NEBRASKA, RG2341-0-1266
Ericson, Nebraska, 1910. A poster supports Omaha Mayor Jim Dahlman’s candidacy for governor. Dahlman was a notorious
“wet,” meaning an opponent of Prohibition. HISTORY NEBRASKA, RG3542-95-17
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
61
The incident in Nebraska City.
OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, APRIL 6, 1902
But opposing alcohol wasn’t Nation’s only crusade. She
was also an ardent supporter of women’s suffrage. For her,
and for many women of her generation, the two causes were
Saloon in Wheeler County, Nebraska, circa 1900.
country’s most prominent Democrat — for not speaking up
enough in its favor. Never tolerant of half-heartedness or
political calculation, Nation wrote in her autobiography,
“From that time forth I knew Bryan was for Bryan and what
Bryan could get for Bryan.”
Nebraskaland
• January-February 2024
Visit History Nebraska’s website at history.nebraska.gov.
HISTORY NEBRASKA, RG3542-7-5
Nation toured Omaha’s vice district accompanied by
reporters. OMAHA BEE, MARCH 30, 1902
62
related. In one of her public debates on suffrage, Nation took
on a county judge in Seward. According to the Blue Valley
Blade, the pair spent the evening quoting the Bible at each
other.
“She seems to have a very poor opinion of the stronger
sex,” the Blade commented. “Mrs. Nation contends that men
are to blame for all the evil in the land and that things will
not go right until women are allowed to vote.”
Dying in 1911, Nation did not live to see the country
embrace both Prohibition and women’s suffrage in the wake
of World War I. For Nebraskans, her 1902 tour showed both
the growing power — and firm resistance — to her causes. N
Nation’s followers shared her uncompromising fervor.
While she was in Lincoln, news broke that a woman had
horsewhipped the mayor of Topeka, Kansas, for failing to
shut down the city’s saloons. Nation applauded the attack.
On April 1, newspapers reported that a dozen veiled women
had entered a saloon in Eddyville, Nebraska, smashing
furniture and emptying out liquor bottles.
Nation herself never did anything veiled. She was soon
back in Omaha touring the city’s notorious Third Ward in the
company of several newspaper reporters. A crowd followed
her to Goldsmith’s saloon at Ninth and Capitol, “possibly the
toughest joint in town,” according to the Omaha Bee. “With
wild peals of laughter the women raised their glasses of beer,
blew the foam from the amber fluid so that it almost fell upon
the ‘smasher’s’ dress and drank to her health.”
She received a harsher welcome in a Nebraska City saloon
a few days later when she tried to get behind the bar —
presumably to break things — and in the ensuing scuffle was
reportedly slapped by a bartender. Nation took it in stride. In
her autobiography she boasted, “I reeled and fell and while I
knew he struck me with his clenched fists as hard as he could,
so it seemed to me, I did not have a bruise.” Ejected from the
saloon, she came back later and was arrested and jailed.
Saloon in Abie, Butler County, Nebraska, circa 1900.
January-February 2024 •
HISTORY NEBRASKA, RG3268-1-5
Nebraskaland
63
Wildlife’s
Wintering
Ways
Story and photos by Justin Haag
W
hen the mercury dips
down around zero, most
of us are fortunate to have
heated spaces to take refuge. Wildlife
aren’t so fortunate, but do have special
adaptations and behaviors to battle the
elements.
Some escape the cold by migrating
south. While such travel is certainly
effective, and attractive to us humans,
it comes at the expense of a lot of
energy and most animals would rather
stay put if possible.
Warm-blooded
animals
must
maintain an internal body temperature,
and wildlife can certainly succumb
to cold and frostbite just as humans
can. Thanks to biological features,
our neighbors of the wild are able to
withstand frigid temperatures much
better than we are.
One of the primary tactics for many
species is to take things down a notch.
That is, they either hibernate or enter
the period of slowed activity known as
torpor. And, depending on the animal,
there may be herding, denning, burrowing
and roosting in tree cavities involved.
A certain amount of “porking out”
also helps, as nature’s smorgasbord of
food in fall helps animals prepare for
months ahead. Wild turkeys, which are
heavily dependent on ground forage,
often carry enough fat into winter to
roost in a tree without food for a week if
a snowstorm forces them to do so.
Similar to many birds, you will often
see turkeys fluffing feathers to boost
insulation. Most terrestrial species use
a natural coat of some sort to stay
warm. Mammals such as deer gradually
replace the hair of their summer coats
with heavier ones for winter.
The Canada goose has upwards to
25,000 feathers, which, similar to other
waterfowl, it keeps waterproofed with
oil from a gland in its lower back. The
Thick winter coats of the
pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)
match the frost-covered
Panhandle landscape on this
morning.
64
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
65
thick undercoating of fluffy down feathers traps
heat from their body close to the skin.
Also remarkable are the goose’s feet, which
use an artery of warm blood to heat the frigid
blood returning to the heart from below — a
handy feature for a bird that spends a lot of time
standing on ice.
The cottontail rabbit surely prefers being too
cold rather than too hot. When not foraging,
rabbits take refuge in underground dens lined
with grass, straw and twigs. Regardless, winter
is a tough time for the species as estimates say
only 30 percent make it through to spring.
Of course, one of the most important
RIGHT: An eastern cottontail rabbit
(Sylvilagus floridanus) sits on a bed of snow
at Metcalf Wildlife Management Area
near Hay Springs.
BELOW: A great horned owl (Bubo
virginianus) sits through a light snow in an
abandoned ranch house in Sioux County.
OPPOSITE PAGE: A dark-eyed junco (Junco
hyemalis) clings to the branch of a redleaf
rose after a snow in Chadron.
66
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
67
considerations for an animal to stick around in
winter is the availability of food. Most wintering
herbivores are able to adapt from eating the
green leaves of summer to the woody twigs and
bark that remains. While chickadees certainly
like seeds at feeders, the small birds will also
eat fat from decomposing animal carcasses.
For deer, a keen sense of smell helps them
find food under the snow, and the pads of their
feet harden for winter to make it easier to dig
through the snow and ice.
The ways animals survive in the wild are
many, whether during winter or other times
of the year — it’s something to think about
while we’re huddled up with a hot drink near
the fire. N
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Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
ABOVE: Big snowflakes fall as
a flock of wild turkey forage
through the snow near the White
River west of Chadron.
BELOW LEFT: A white-tailed deer
(Odocoileus virginianus) moves
through the snow-covered
landscape of Chadron State Park
in the Pine Ridge of Dawes County.
BELOW RIGHT: A black-capped
chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)
feeds on a deer carcass at GilbertBaker Wildlife Management Area
in Sioux County.
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
69
A Backyard
Prairie
An Acreage Transformed
Story and photos by Renae Blum
hen Sue Kirkpatrick bought
her acreage in 2013, which is 3
miles east of Lincoln, she didn’t
intend to become a native prairie
hobbyist. After 30 years of living in
neighborhoods with city ordinances,
neighborhood
covenants
and
manicured lawns, Kirkpatrick simply
desired the freedom to do what she
wanted in a more relaxed environment.
But things changed after she signed
up for the Nebraska Master Naturalist
Program in 2014. The program offers
adults in-depth training on the
natural world, as well as volunteer
opportunities.
W
Kirkpatrick completed her training,
which included both classroom time
and hands-on outdoors learning, over
the course of a week at the Niobrara
Valley Preserve near Valentine.
“It was like adult summer camp. It
was so fun, tromping around in the
woods and water and prairie, and
viewing bison, kayaking the Niobrara
and sitting by campfires at night,” she
said.
Kirkpatrick also learned from
natural resource professionals about
biodiversity, prairie restoration, and
what plants belonged in her corner of
Nebraska.
Sue Kirkpatrick poses with freshly cut wildflowers from the prairie restoration she created on her acreage.
An aerial view of Kirkpatrick’s acreage east of Lincoln.
70
Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
NICK SAUVAGEAU, NGPC VIDEOGRAPHER
“As I learned about Nebraska
ecosystems, it became clear that I
wanted to do my part to conserve the
plants and animals that belong on my
5 acres,” she said.
During her training and the
volunteer opportunities that followed,
Kirkpatrick also met many people
who would help her on her journey:
conservationists, nature educators,
biologists, nature nerds, land managers
and more.
Small Beginnings
When Kirkpatrick first moved to
her place, much of it was annual
sunflowers, young cedar trees and
brome grass, an aggressive, nonnative plant. It was mowed at first, so
Kirkpatrick let things grow for a bit to
see what popped up.
One element that has stayed from
those early days is a patch of thickspike
gayfeather (Liatris pycnostachya),
a native species of the low, moist
tallgrass prairies in southeastern
Nebraska often planted in prairie
restorations. It creates beautiful spires
of purple flowers and is becoming
rather uncommon in Nebraska, due to
prairie loss and disturbances such as
heavy grazing and herbicides.
The gayfeather patch was only
about 15 yards in size at the time,
and Kirkpatrick decided to let it grow.
Every year since, it has increased and
has now spread to about an acre of her
property. When it blooms in late July
and early August, the area directly
behind Kirkpatrick’s house blazes into
a stunning field of purple.
“I know it’s more of a monoculture
in certain areas, but I’m OK with that,”
Kirkpatrick said. “It’s really pretty.”
Another
early
project
was
professionally designed. Kirkpatrick
removed a juniper tree from the end
of her driveway and hired Benjamin
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
71
Vogt, owner of Monarch Gardens, a prairie-inspired
design firm in Lincoln, to create a display of native
plants in its place. Today, the cluster of butterfly
milkweed, native grasses, purple poppy mallow,
purple coneflower and other native plants creates an
attractive entrance to her property for both people
and pollinators.
The Prairie Process
Monarch butterfly in a patch of thickspike gayfeather behind
Kirkpatrick’s house.
Kirkpatrick planted wild plum in her backyard, a shrub native to
Nebraska.
After planting various native plants around her
house, Kirkpatrick turned her attention to a prairie
restoration, planting her first half-acre area in the
spring of 2017. She purchased a seed mix from
Prairie Legacy, Inc., a Nebraska company that sells
native plants and seeds for habitat restorations.
Prairie Legacy selected a seed mix for Kirkpatrick of
more than 50 native prairie plants, including purple
prairie clover, yarrow, little bluestem and butterfly
milkweed.
Kirkpatrick began the planting process by treating
the area with an herbicide to kill off what lived there.
Then, when the conditions were right for growth,
she mixed the seeds with vermiculite to add bulk and
planted them, tossing them directly on top of soil
wetted by sprinklers.
She planted her second half-acre in the winter of
2019. Again, Kirkpatrick hand-planted the seeds,
dropping them directly on the snow-covered ground.
Today, the two sections are thriving. No watering
and little weeding is needed, though Kirkpatrick does
mow or burn the sections once a year.
Kirkpatrick has also seeded other patches of her
property with native plants, and around the edges
of her property, she’s planted many native trees and
shrubs. All this habitat has attracted a variety of
wildlife, including birds, a snapping turtle, coyotes,
opossum, raccoons, a fox, deer, turkeys and snakes.
A Transcendent
Experience
A native plant display in front of Kirkpatrick’s house, designed by
Monarch Gardens.
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Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
“This experience is more than just land
management,” Kirkpatrick said. “It’s transcendent.
It’s about experiencing the awe, the wonder, and the
miracle of nature.”
It’s also been a journey of personal growth for
her. “I’m learning to treat myself with the same
wholehearted acceptance that I grant to the ebb
and flow of the biology on my 5 acres,” she said.
“It’s all about trust and acceptance — trusting God
and nature, accepting the various outcomes of
my projects, and trusting that it’s going to be OK,
whatever happens out there.” N
Lessons Learned: Tips for Growing
Native Plants at Home
By Renae Blum
Looking to try something similar to Kirkpatrick’s
project? Here are some lessons she’s learned
over the years, in her own words.
Start small. One of the first things I did to
my place was plant fescue, a non-native lawn
grass, in bare patches of dirt so weeds wouldn’t
take over. I won’t do that again.
The area was only 15 feet by 75 feet, so upon
the advice of a conservation-minded person,
I killed it with black plastic. (Clear plastic is
effective, too.) After a summer of intensified heat
on the fescue plot, it was ready for a seeding of
native grasses. Not a big area, but a beginning.
When you start to establish a prairie
restoration, do what the professionals tell
you to do. They really do know what they’re
talking about. If they tell you to mow the first
year, do it. The prairie takes a while to get
established. As the saying goes, the first year it
sleeps, second year it creeps, third year it leaps.
Mowing and other mechanical methods
of plant removal can be great tools. I’m still
learning this one. When I first moved here from a
manicured neighborhood, I was rebelliously antimowing. Well, there is a time and place for it. It is
helpful in setting back weeds, establishing trails
and creating a safe fire break before a prescribed
burn.
Get to know your weed whacker. One of
the happiest days of my life was when I learned
to operate mine. It’s my favorite tool. It goes
places the mower can’t.
Every action (or inaction) has a
consequence. Every management decision has
an effect, and sometimes your decision is to do
nothing. Some of the consequences you will be
happy about; some you might not like.
Don’t worry too much about it. An
important one. This place is not my bread and
butter; it’s a hobby.
If you feel like this is just too much work,
maybe you should choose to do something
else. When I bought an acreage 10 years ago,
many people said, “An acreage … that’s a lot of
darn work!” I didn’t buy it to make a lot of work
for myself, and I don’t think it is a lot of work.
I love going outside and checking on how my
plants have grown, and watching for birds and
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
other wildlife. If I didn’t have weeds to get after,
or that darn “work” to do out there, I wouldn’t
have as many opportunities to enjoy nature.
One year I had the idea that apple trees
might be fun. Wrong! Too much work, no fun
(for me). Also, no apples. Same with a patch of
serviceberry bushes I put in nine years ago. I
watered them for a couple of years and mowed
around them even longer, but they never grew.
Time to move on.
Understand and accept that your prairie
will change — while continuing to manage
it. For example, at my place, the gayfeather first
established itself in the northwestern corner of
my field, but it has spread out and grown thicker
in another corner. False boneset is currently
becoming more prevalent in the original
northwestern corner.
While enjoying the natural changes in plant
populations, I need to be watching my prairie
in order to do the things that mimic natural
disturbance phenomena (strategic grazing,
prescribed burning or discretionary mowing),
which gives different plants a chance to grow. A
variety of species helps to keep a prairie healthy.
And, of course, I’m always keeping an eye open
for noxious weeds and invasives which require
intervention.
Sit down. This is a difficult lesson. A friend
suggested that I put in some benches or seating
in strategic places. I laughed, asking, “How often
do you think I sit down outside?” Well, since then,
I’ve been practicing being still out there, listening,
observing — and loving it.
•
•
January-February 2024 •
Nebraskaland
73
MIXED BAG
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Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
January-February 2024 •
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75
MIXED BAG
ANTLERS VS. HORNS
By Monica Macoubrie, Wildlife Education Specialist
How many times have you heard someone say, “Wow,
look at the horns on that deer”? Horns and antlers are not
interchangeable. While they share some similarities, horns
and antlers are distinct forms of animal headgear.
Antlers
Males in the Cervidae family, including mule deer, whitetailed deer, moose and elk, are the only class of mammals to
grow antlers. Exceptions: Both males and females of caribou
and reindeer possess antlers, and, oddly, males drop their
antlers before females. For instance, caribou males in Alaska
drop their antlers in October, whereas pregnant females may
retain their antlers well into May or June the following year.
Scientists believe this is to help females fight and defend
their food sources through the winter.
Antlers can grow exceptionally large, and their morphology
will vary among species.
growing. The animal will then shed this layer by scraping
its antlers on trees and thick brush. This scraping action
will also stain, shine and sharpen the rack. The result will,
hopefully, be impressive enough to compete for and attract
a mate.
As the antlers stop growing, the outer, spongy bone is
replaced by compact bone while the centers become filled
with coarse, spongy lamellar bone and marrow spaces. In
winter when growth hormones decrease, the pedicle loses
calcium, which will weaken the connection between the
pedicle and the antler. At this point, the antler(s) will fall
off. For a short time, males will be without antlers until the
growing process begins again in the spring.
is most likely due to the tendency of larger species to fight
more often; smaller bovids typically prefer to run away and
hide.
Horns on males are usually thicker at the base and able
to withstand more force. On females, they are normally
straighter and thinner, which may make the horns better for
stabbing for defense.
In addition to fighting for dominance, territory or a mate,
horns can be used for other functional purposes, such as
digging in soil or stripping bark from trees. There is evidence
of horns being used as cooling systems: Blood vessels in the
bony core of the horn can let off heat to lower the animal’s
body temperature.
Purpose of Antlers
Pronghorns, the Exception
Among cervids, the phrase “bigger is better” couldn’t be
truer. Hunters know that males use their antlers during
the breeding season to compete for females and to fight
other males for hierarchy and leadership; females see males
with larger antlers to be fitter because of their position as
alpha males. Additionally, antlers also are indicators of good
metabolic efficiency and food gathering, which are desirable
traits in a reproductive partner.
Antlers aren’t just used for acquiring a mate — they also
are used for protection against predators. Animals such
as coyotes, bobcats and mountain lions could be potential
predators for cervids.
How Do Antlers Grow?
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Nebraskaland • January-February 2024
JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
Horns
Horns grow on completely different groups of animals:
males, and females in some species, of bovids. The Bovidae
family includes cows, sheep, goats, water buffalo, antelopes
and gazelles. Unlike antlers that have the same basic shape,
the appearance of horns varies widely from one animal to
the next.
How Do Horns Grow?
Unlike antlers that branch out and shed, horns, also called
ossicones, do neither of these. In many species, horns never
stop growing throughout the life of the animal, which is
useful as horns can become worn down over time. Normally,
the only reason an animal loses its horns is if they are broken
or cut off, and if this happens, horns cannot re-grow.
The growth of horns is completely different than that of
antlers. The cores begin as small, bony growths underneath
the skin and over the skull in the subcutaneous connective
tissue. Horns are not attached to the skull — they possess
their own centers of ossification and fuse secondarily to the
skull bones.
In the Bovidae family, horns can grow singularly or as
symmetrical pairs, such as those seen on bighorn sheep.
An animal’s larger antlers are a good indicator of metabolic
efficiency and usually means the animal is fitter. These
are desirable traits for a female looking for a reproductive
partner. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Antlers begin growing from two small bony structures
on top of an animal’s head called pedicles. For deer or elk
in Nebraska, changes in testicular and pituitary hormones
during the spring signals the growth of antlers.
In the early stages of development, antlers have high water
and protein content. They are made of bone and are coated in
velvet — a thin, fuzzy layer of skin tissue that carries blood
and nutrients to the antlers during development. When
the antlers reach their full size, the velvet will dry and stop
Male bighorn sheep will often crash into their opponents
and fight to establish dominance and mark territories.
In the Sandhills and western Nebraska, you may find an
animal known as the pronghorn. This animal is the only
surviving species of the North American ungulate family:
Antilocapridae. Not only are pronghorn a unique ruminant,
they also carry unique headgear, which have characteristics
of both horns and antlers.
True antlers are made of bone and are shed each year, and
true horns are made of compressed keratin that grows from
a bony core and are never shed. Interestingly, the horns on a
pronghorn are neither true horns nor true antlers. Instead,
the sheath is made of keratin, yet the horns are shed yearly.
True horns normally have only one point, but pronghorn
have branched horns. Females also have horns, but they are
much smaller than their male counterparts. Pronghorns are
the only animals in the world that have forked horns that are
shed each year.
Purpose of Horns
Just like deer, elk will develop velvet on their antlers during
the growing process. This velvet helps bring nutrients and
blood to the developing ornaments. It will later be rubbed
off when the antlers stop growing. JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
Although the process of growth is different for horns
and antlers, they are similar in function and use. Horns are
often used by males to fight and display during the breeding
season. These fights include clashes that will ultimately
determine the overall strength of the animal and its right to
breed.
Unlike antlered species, the females of many species of
bovids possess horns, especially among larger species. This
Pronghorn have neither true horns, nor true antlers.
Instead, they have a combination of both. Their horns are
forked and are shed annually. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
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PORTRAITS FROM THE PAST
Fishing near Chambers, 1952
It is such fun to see the
portraits from the past! I went
to my archives and found this
photo. These are my parents,
Jeanne and Lyle Clemens,
when they were newly
married. They are displaying
their catch of crappies in front
of their home in Chambers,
Nebraska, probably around
1952.
– Lisa Hadenfeldt,
Scottsbluff
Deer hunting west of Columbus, 1959
The photo shows my grandfather, Gotlieb Wilke (far right), and my uncles, Robert Wilke (sitting), Walter Wilke (in back of
pickup) and Billy Schroeder. These deer were all shot a couple of miles west of Columbus along the Loup River on opening day.
– Myron Behlen, Columbus
Pheasant hunting near Cozad, 1939
Pheasant hunting near Cozad back in 1939 with (left to right) George Kennedy, Raymond Lemme and Uncle Einar Andersen.
My mother was from Cozad, and her brother, Einar, was from Bassett.
– Marjorie Kouba, North Platte
Pronghorn hunting near Kimball, 1978
Gary Koci (me, shown right) with
hunting guide and partner
Ed Zals back in 1978 while hunting
antelope near Kimball.
– Gary Koci, Lincoln
Send contributions to: Portraits from the Past, Nebraskaland Magazine, P.O. Box 30370, Lincoln, NE 68503-0370. Or e-mail to Tim.Reigert@Nebraska.gov.
Photos should show people enjoying Nebraska outdoor activities, such as camping, boating, hunting or fishing, and must have been taken before 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.
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THE LAST STOP
JEFF KURRUS, NEBRASKALAND
PINTAILS
By Jeff Kurrus
“Pintails!” Todd Mills burst from beside me,
his eyes wide as he stared at the sleek flyers
above us from our Platte River goose blind
that day. His gaze was part panic — because
he always gets a little more keyed up when
pintails are in the air.
How could you not be in wonderment when
watching these birds fly?
“They’re coming right in!” he darn near
shouted, ignoring the tornado of Canada geese
working our spread as well, which is especially
interesting because duck season had closed
and we had driven to Hall County with one
focus in mind — geese. But that focus changed
when Mills picked those birds out of the sky.
“Wow,” was all he could say as they came in
easier than any flock of pintails had ever done
before, seemingly well aware that they were
out of danger.
Once they gave us their flirty buzz, the entire
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group well within gun range, they left — never
to be seen again.
Hours later, when we returned to the truck
after one of our most memorable goose hunts
ever, Mills finally got comfortable in his seat
and turned toward me.
“How about them pintails?” he said, his
61-year-old voice sounding like a teenager
again. “How many do you think there were?”
“I think I can tell you that,” I said. When I
got home, I texted him the photograph with
this message: “There’s nothing special about
this image. Too far away. But I thought you’d
like.”
“Oh my,” was all he responded to this
average-at-best photograph of what many
believe to be hunting’s most beautiful and
graceful bird, reminding me that sometimes
it’s simply not about the photo itself. It’s the
feeling you get when you see it.
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