The NATION'S LONGEST

THE YEAR was 1927 and Nebraska hunters were anxiously awaiting the first open season on pheasants. Wheeler and part of Sherman County were the areas open and hunters were to be allowed five ringnecks. When the three-day season ended, the number of birds bagged was totaled and came to a surprising 5,000. The following year a 10-day season was held. The pheasant was here to stay.

Many! changes have been made since the 1927 hunt. Compare it with the 1962 season that opens October 27. There were three days then, there are 86 days this year, the longest pheasant season ever held here. One county and part of another was open in 1927. Now the entire state is open. Five birds were all that were allowed in possession. A generous limit of 16 is offered today. And when the long hunt comes to a close next January, an estimated million-plus ringnecks will be bagged.

Knowledge of pheasants has changed drastically over the years, too, as is reflected in the generous OCTOBER, 1962 3   hunts of recent years. Once the head of the Game Commission felt that "the chief value of pheasants lies in their insectivorous nature, which makes them valuable in combating insect pests in sections where damage results to crops from this source.'' His 1921 report goes on to say that three carloads of pheasants, primarily Chinese ringnecks, were distributed to farmers and others who had made applications. The birds were secured from pheasant farms at Silvertown, Oregon, and St. Charles, Illinois, and were distributed without cost.

Much of the early pheasant management in Nebraska was concerned with attaining state-wide distribution. In the early 1900's, scattered releases were made in Howard County. By the mid-20's birds in Howard, Sherman, and Valley counties had increased to the point where they were trapped and released in areas where pheasants were less plentiful. Records indicate trappers were paid $1 for each bird caught and delivered to the Game Commission. In 1927 and 1928, 28,632 ringnecks were distributed throughout the state in this manner.

As the pheasant range was extended, hunting was allowed in more and more counties. By 1930, 23 counties were open and in 1931, 76 counties. The entire state was opened for the first time in 1937. From 1938 through 1942, open seasons were held in from 76 to 89 counties, Bag limits from 1927 through 1942 were five birds in possession. Hens were legal targets in the state from 1930 until 1941. But during this 12-year period, pheasants continued to increase.

Hunting went into high gear in 1943, with the entire state open and the season running a full 70 days. But it was just a taste of things to come. In 1944 and 1945 the season was boosted again, this time to 80 days. The state was zoned in 1946, running 79 days in 68 counties and 72 in the remainder of the state. Bag limits from 1943 to 1945 were 5 roosters a day and 10 in possession. Seven cocks were allowed in most of the state in 1946.

In 1947 the bottom dropped out, the season running only 10 days with snooting hours from noon 4 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   to sunset. The bag limit was cut to 2 roosters a day. It was a little better in 1948 with 21 half days and a daily bag and possession limit of 3 cocks. The 1949 season showed another drop with the season open in only 68 counties and running 10 half days.

The upswing began in 1950 when the season was extended to 23 days and the daily bag and possession limit raised to 4 cocks. From 1951 to 1955 the seasons saw a high of 38 days and a low of 10 days, while the bag and possession limits fluctuated between 2 and 5 cocks. The big change has come in the past 6 years, from 23 days and a bag limit of 3 cocks and 6 in possession in 1956 to 86 days and a bag limit of 4 and possession limit of 16 in 1962.

Since 1958 Nebraska hunters have consistently harvested over a million pheasants a year. The 1961 season was the best in recent years, with 1,298,000 roosters taken.

Little was known about pheasant management in the early years. Today sound and realistic programs have been developed. Many years of research have gone into learning the proper methods of pheasant management. One fact stands out above all, the pheasant population can not be overshot when only the cocks are harvested. Even with an 86-day season, Nebraska will not utilize the full sporting potential of its No. 1 game bird. In a normal year, hunters harvest about half of the surplus roosters. Actually, sportsmen could bag 90 per cent of the cocks and still leave adequate ringneck numbers for breeding purposes.

The length of season has little effect on the number of birds taken. Up to 65 per cent of the roosters harvested in any season are taken in the first 10 days. The remaining harvest occurs over the rest of the season with insignificant numbers bagged during the last half of long seasons.

Pheasants start out each hunting season with the number of hens and cocks approximately equal. Pheasants are highly polygamous. Experience and research have proved that one rooster can service up to 15 hens. A 90 per cent hunter harvest of the cock pheasants is perfectly safe and has no retarding effect on the following spring's production of young birds.

Nature, not hunting, regulates the pheasant population. The annual turnover in a pheasant population is high—from 65 to 70 per cent. A brood of 10 birds in the spring will be reduced through predators, accidents, adverse weather, disease, and other natural causes to three by the following autumn. Hunting does not change these losses, it merely replaces them. Failure to harvest adequately simply results in the waste of this resource.

There is little man can do to control natural mortality factors. But he can control environment so that pheasants have the proper habitat to provide food, shelter, and safety. In recent years, for example, the Soil Bank program has added thousands of acres of suitable pheasant habitat and has been a contributing factor in increased pheasant production.

Yes, pheasant hunting has changed considerably since 1927. So has management. And because it has changed, Nebraska sportsmen are enjoying the most generous season offered in the nation. The ringneck will continue at the top of the hunting list here, a resource that provides recreation opportunity because it is managed wisely and well.

I'LL TAKE QUAIL

DON'T BE fooled by quail. Sure, they hold well for dogs and you can move right in on top of them before they flush. But then comes that exploding roar as the covey wings skyward. You try to pick out a bird, but he won't hold still. He twists and turns, pulling every trick in the book. Then, just as you have the bird lined up, he zooms behind a tree, and you're left wondering why you still haven't pulled the trigger.

This is the kind of first-time "bob" action you can expect, especially if you have cut your shooting teeth on pheasants or ducks. Don't get me wrong. I have the highest regard for other game birds. But when it comes to truly exciting gunning, nothing can match quail. My cousin, Harold Mishnick, and my dad, Ray Sr., agree. We've become a pretty good quail-hunting team, having worked bobwhites together for quite a few years.

Long ago we learned to expect the unexpected from this tricky target. No matter how long you have hunted the bob, you're always in for something new. Take the time the three of us were hunting after a heavy snow near Beatrice. We had broken up a covey which flew over to the field. But when we got there, the quail had disappeared. The alfalfa had been cut short, and there just wasn't enough cover for the birds to hide. Our three Brittany spaniels went to work and in no time my dad's dog, Lady, went on point. Dad walked over, unbelieving. He noticed a small opening in the snow and poked at it with his toe. A bob exploded in his face, but he brought it down. We found four more the same way. The sneaky birds had tunnelled into the white stuff to escape.

This is a good example of where a well-trained dog is important. With all the tricks a quail has up his sleeve, you need everything you can get on your side, and a dog will give you a lot of shooting you might otherwise miss. Quail are smart and you can often walk within a few feet of a covey as we did without even suspecting they are there.

What really fools most hunters is when the dog goes on point. Everything looks so easy. You know where the birds are and maneuver to get into the best spot. Then what does the bobwhite do but fly right at you, scaring you half out of your wits. Once Harold and I thought we had a covey all locked up. We had spotted the birds a short way out in a field. It looked simple. The dogs got on them right away and we were ready for action. Two singles got up, one on my side and the other on his. Just as I was ready to shoot, mine veered toward Harold and I checked my shot. My partner's bird did the same, winging by me. He followed his through, though, and brought down both birds as they crossed.

On that same hunt, three bobs got up right in front of me. Just as I pulled off a shot another came out of nowhere toward my gun. He couldn't have been more than 10 feet away. When the smoke cleared, only feathers remained.

When you hunt bobwhites around trees, look out. They can thread a needle when it comes to flying through timber. The birds seem to know how to keep at least one tree between you and themselves. It's almost like they had two sets of eyes, one to see where they are going and another to watch you.

With the bob being such a difficult target, I want everything on my side. For that reason, I use Nos. IV2 or 8 shot. A 12-gauge, No. 5 shell has 212 pellets compared to 437 in a No. 7%. That's a difference of 225 pellets and each one counts in bobwhite hunting. Choke is just as important. A full choke at 30 yards will tear the quail to pieces. A more open choke gives a bigger pattern, allowing a margin of error if the quail turns quickly just as you fire.

We find quail hide-outs the lazy-man's way. Early in the season neither we nor the dogs are in top shape, so we limit ourselves to the easiest cover. A 6 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   good place to start is a draw with trees on either side. As the season advances, we move into heavier cover. Actually, it works out just as well. The birds seem to prefer the lighter cover early in the season and don't move into denser areas until later. Ditches and creek bottoms are a favorite hangout in bad weather.

Although quail prefer heavy cover, I've found they tend to covey in more open areas where they can get dried off after a heavy snow or when there's lots of dew. During inclement weather, of course, they're found in the heaviest cover available. But on warm, sunny days, quail like to get out in the open during the afternoon hours. As the season progresses, quail bunch up more. They tend to fly farther and are inclined to run.

I've learned that hunting pressure helps the bobs. When I first started working the fields near Beatrice, there were few hunters and the coveys were pretty much undisturbed and individual birds small. With surplus quail removed, birds are more vigorous.

The three of us are working on blue rocks now so we won't panic when the first covey explodes in front of us. We'll take any pheasants that come along, but we'll be looking for bobs, the trickiest target you'll ever set your sights on.

The ONE-BOX HUNT

THE HAWKER'S cry that you can't tell one player from another without a program could easily fit the bill when the Nebraska One-Box Pheasant Hunt is held November 9 and 10 at Broken Bow. Major league baseball players, professional golfers, national political leaders, and sportsmen from neighboring states will be on hand for this exciting annual hunt.

What had started out as a dream of Tom Varney, Jr., Broken Bow bank president, has mushroomed into a major sporting event. The one-box hunt tests the shooting prowess of some of the finest upland-game hunters in the nation, hunters that get a crack at some of the finest pheasant hunting in the nation.

"I got the idea of a pheasant hunt in Nebraska while participating in the Wyoming One-Shot Antelope Hunt," Varney said. "I figured there was no better way to advertise Nebraska's pheasant hunting than to hold our own one-box event. Teams from Wyoming, Texas, Kansas, and our own squad kicked 8 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   off the hunt last year. It was such a success we decided to enlarge it this year."

Rules for the hunt are simple enough. Each five-man team is given a box of 25 shotgun shells. The only stipulation is that the shells are divided up among the team members. When the 25 are gone, the team is finished hunting. At the end of the day the group with the most pheasants is declared the winner and awarded the championship trophy.

Hunting is conducted within a 25 to 30-mile radius of Broken Bow. Each team picks where it wants to hunt. Transportation and guides are furnished through the co-operation of area hunters. Should a team decide pheasant pastures look greener somewhere else, they can pick up and move. Guides accompany each group and give the official time the squad has shot its 25 birds or used its shells.

An enterprising Texan got a pheasant last year without firing a shot. The pilot who flew the Texas team up was walking along, saw a bird sitting in the middle of the road, and picked it up alive.

"We examined the bird and couldn't find even one shot in it," Varney said, "so we believed his story, even though he was a Texan."

The first hunt was hardly over before plans for this year's affair began. Invitations were sent to last year's contestants and others. They came back a short time later with enthusiastic replies. Other sportsmen, hearing of the hunt, began asking for information.

Mickey Mantle and Ralph Terry, New York Yankees; Jackie Brandt, Baltimore Orioles; Richie Ashburn, New York Mets, and other baseball stars have been asked. Early indications are that there will be plenty on hand for a team representing the major leagues. Brandt and Ashburn, being native Nebraskans, are more than familiar with Nebraska's prime pheasant hunting.

Golf professionals like Jimmy Demaret, Jackie Burke, Dr. Cary Middlecoff, and Lou Worsham aren't conceding a thing. Harry Obitz, professional at Lochland Country Club in Hastings, thinks his team will have the upper hand.

Host Nebraska will have at least two teams with Governor Frank Morrison captaining one of the squads. As chief law-enforcement officer of the state, he,ll be serving his constitutional duty by seeing that everything is done right. The governor doesn't expect that flashing his badge will have any effect on the pheasants, however.

Game Commission Director Mel Steen has assurances from Mexican sportsmen that they will have a team on hand. Two hunters have already promised to enter the hunt and said they will have a full team representing their country. Still others have said that they plan to enter teams soon.

The first day, Friday, November 9, will consist of contestants sharpening up their shooting eyes in special blue-rock competition. Then a get-together banquet will be held. Tales of shooting prowess won't go far into the night, however, as the hunt officially begins at sunrise the next morning.

Each team heads for its hot-spot and begins beating the cover for ringnecks. As the day goes on, the competition becomes tense. Reports filter in on how each group is doing. Finally the day draws to a close. Then team scores are totaled. At the evening banquet the winning team is presented with the Nebraska One-Box Pheasant Hunt traveling trophy. Each winning member receives an individual trophy, also. While the contestants enjoy the meal, their pheasants are cleaned and packaged.

A box of shells may mean just 25 individual shots to some people, but to the participants in the Nebraska One-Box Pheasant Hunt, it means a lot more. Two days of enjoyable companionship with other sportsmen, friendly, competitive shooting, and a taste of NEBRASKAland pheasant hunting and hospitality all add up to an experience that won't soon be forgotten.

GOLD IN THE MISSOURI

JUST A FEW fathoms beneath the surface a moving underwater shadow could be seen clearly. What small fish inhabited the river scurried frantically to escape the strange intruder with gills of metal strapped to his back. This was a member of the scuba clan. The figure came on a steady, almost plodding pace, the eyes behind the windowed mask searching the bottom intently.

Then he saw it, a section of a ship which had sunk around the time James Watt first began to use the word horsepower. The skin diver moved straight toward the rotting ship's timber. He was quite surprised that the wreck was so disintegrated, even in such calm river water. With his bare hands, he began to rake the ooze and mire around the broken masts and spars of wood. Soon he unearthed pieces of metal, a huge iron ship's stack, and other scattered debris, even remnants of an old stern-wheel axle. These were interesting relics and artifacts of a once proud steamboat, but they were not the salvage he sought.

After some 15 minutes more, a long burst of aerated bubbles broke from his mask, as he emitted an excited, muffled underwater cry. Directly before him, hardly 8 to 10 inches below former bottom level, was a dull brown bar. Quickly picking up a nearby piece of metal debris, he began scratching the bar. It gouged easily, exposing a bright yellow interior. He had no doubts now as to his find. It was gold, a solid cast ingot of pure gold.

As the diver peered at it, he felt some of the exuberance of the bygone gold-rush days in California, Alaska, and the Yukon. He knew this was not an isolated find. There were other ingots, many others, buried deep in the very muck of the river bottom on which he trod. He hefted the ingot; even with the buoyancy provided by the water it was heavy. Then, using every muscle, he slowly made his way to the air-breathing world above.

Once he broke the surface and flipped back his mask, his identity became known, for he was truly an experienced diver who does his treasure-hunting for both fun and profit. Nearby, moored in midstream, was his 17-foot outboard manned by his wife, also an expert diver. She was ready to pick her husband up and head back (continued on page 30)

SAILS ON MCCONAUGHY

THE THREE sailboats, leaning on the arm of the wind, swept over the shimmering waters of Lake McConaughy. Rocky coves and sandy beaches slipped soundlessly by, for silence is one of the rewards for those who follow sailing's age-old lure.

Dave Hart, Ogallala sailing enthusiast, skippered his family-size "Flying Dutchman". His 9-year-old son, Doug, served as chief deck hand, with his wife Jean, and the other two children, Sue, 6, and Johnny, 2, along for the fun-filled ride.

Dick Roeser's slightly smaller Lightning-class craft with Russ Rebman and Pat Lanigan aboard and the bug-size canvas sailboat, with barely enough room for Jack and Beverly Pollack, completed the flotilla. Summer was fast dying and this would be one of the boaters' last outings of the year. Their day had begun at midmorning, and until noon the sails glistened sharply against blue water. Suddenly the sky filled with clouds, the fluffy shadows racing the boats to the sanctuary of Ogallala Beach. Here Jack prepared hamburgers for the hungry crews.

A little later, the clouds blew out, and the sails were again billowing in the breeze. But by midafternoon, the Lightning snapped a stay, and was towed back to dock by a classy outboard. Later the canvas boat moved back to a friendly cove. The Fly Dutchman tacked slowly against the dying wind, and sundown found it, too, safe at harbor.

There is but a scant handful of sailboats in Nebraska, probably less than 100. Lake McConaughy sees about six regulars during a season. It could easily accommodate many times that number. The same situation prevails at other sailing-sized impoundments in the state, such as Lake Maloney, Lewis and Clark Lake, and Harlan Reservoir.

The supposition that sailboats are strictly a pleasure craft, coupled with the erroneous idea that sailing is dangerous and difficult to master, may well be the reason more Nebraskans have not taken the plunge. The truth is, you can fish from a sailboat, and hoisting a mainsail or handling jib and main-sheets expertly requires no more intelligence than handling a powerboat. Besides, motive power is free. A 5 to 20-knot wind, seldom absent from Nebraska in the summer, is adequate for sailing.

Sailing in Nebraska may be off to a slow start, but it will grow. The adventuresome and those who want to get away from the smell of gasoline and the roar of a motor will see to that.

YES OR NO FOR DUCKS

THROUGHOUT North America, duck hunters and conservationists are voicing concern for the great drop in the continental duck population. The picture has indeed changed since the waterfowl abundance of the early 1950's.

Foremost among the reasons for the great decline is drought. Since the 1950's, the Canadian prairie provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and the United States' tri-state duck factory in North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota have been experiencing some of their driest years since the 1930's.

But drought is only a temporary condition and will eventually subside on its own accord. There are other factors of a more permanent nature. Drainage, siltation, and overgrazing, all caused by man, have played a sickening part in reducing duck productivity of wetlands. And of these three conditions, drainage has destroyed the most.

The wetlands, located in the midst of agricultural regions, are fast being drained to provide more land for farming. All this is being done at a time when North America's farm surplus has grown to the point of overflowing.

Drainage began on a large scale during the war years of 1942 and 1943. Huge quantities of food were in demand for the war and home front. At that time the government logically encouraged drainage by providing federal aid to farmers. Not so logical is the fact that funds are still being provided, even in the face of surpluses.

After the hardship years of the 30's, farmers were ready to take advantage of the good years of the 40's. Many potholes were converted from the raising of ducks into areas producing wheat, flax, barley, and oats. Government subsidization helped the farmers finance the drainage and as prices on farm products rose, more and more drainage went on.

In view of today's agricultural surplus, and the increasing need for duck production grounds, it seems feasible that rather than to continue draining these 16 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   important potholes, they should be retained. Good nesting years during the wet periods of the early and middle 1950's covered up the results of continued drainage, making it appear duck populations were remaining steady. Then drought moved in. In the United States, it became apparent that the tri-state duck factory had lost more than half its duck production, amounting to well over five million birds. No Canadian figures were available, but the story there was similar.

The Dakotas and Minnesota have normally produced three-quarters of all wild ducklings hatched in the United States, amounting to about 9 per cent of North America's population. Canada produces 88 per cent of the continent's output.

Since the late 1940's, subsidized drainage has been destroying waterfowl habitat faster than the Fish and Wildlife Service and state conservation departments have been able to aquire it. Since hunters began buying duck stamps in 1935, the Department of the Interior has used the revenues to buy or lease well over 250,000 acres of waterfowl habitat. On the other hand, nearly a million acres has been lost to subsidized drainage in the tri-state duck factory since 1943.

The prairie pothole region, which once included 115,000 square miles in the Dakotas, Minnesota, Iowa, and Montana, has today dwindled to less than 56,000 square miles. With the loss of these potholes has come the loss of waterfowl and other wildlife.

The importance of production grounds to the duck population cannot be considered lightly. Each year, during migration and on the winter grounds, considerable duck losses occur from natural causes. If there is good production, these losses can be replaced. But ducks cannot stand a high mortality rate when production rates are low. By far, production grounds are the most important part of the duck's habitat needs.

It has been said that the amount of water has not dwindled despite the drainage. Though a region might on the whole retain as much water, the results will not be the same so long as the potholes are lost. During breeding season, ducks need small water areas, despite the fact that they might be dry during other parts of the year. Ducks need dispersal areas and this is what the potholes offer. In the course of one breeding season, the small pond that does not play a part in duck production is rare.

If ducks are forced to congregate on large bodies of water, they do not nest. And when there is no nesting, the complete cycle is affected. This was clearly shown during the past three springs. There were large migrations of ducks to Canada, but when they got there, they found many of the potholes still dry because of drought. The ducks congregated on the larger lakes, and as a result there was little nesting activity.

Though the picture might not look too bright, there is hope for North America's duck population. The drought is definitely on the decline, with waters starting to return to many sections of the wetlands. This year it looks like brood survival will be good in the Canadian provinces and in the Dakotas where the water situation has recovered.

Also, a previously made recommendation that a means be found to preserve the United States' wetlands has received Congressional support. Known as the Wetlands Acquisition Program, the federal government has put into effect a bill which would provide funds for purchase of these areas. The program got under way in North Dakota and Minnesota in 1960 and will soon be in effect in other states in the Central Flyway as well as the rest of the nation.

Primary production areas are now being acquired in the hopes of permanently preserving them. First, one large body of water is purchased. Surrounding it are numerous potholes, all ideal for duck breeding grounds. Through agreements and leases with farmers, these smaller potholes remain free from drainage. No improvements are made, the waters being left just as they are. In this way, breeding grounds are there when the ducks return.

Perhaps, before long, the situation will not be so acute. North America's waterfowl population may again be on the upswing. A great many questions still surround the question of wetlands in North America. The first few small steps are being taken. They may lead to bigger ones.

Presenting NEBRASKALAND

BIG AND full of doing, that's "NEBRASKAland, where the West begins," the Game Commission's new 27-minute sound-and-color tourist film to be premiered here this month. A unique blending of the Old West and new, the 16-mm motion picture is sure to bring a new-found feeling of pride and an awakening to Nebraska's tremendous recreational potential.

The Game Commission, official tourist agency of the state, produced, filmed, and wrote the new movie. It is making the film available to any and all groups who want to have an early showing. Bookings are now being made at the Information and Tourism Division in Lincoln.

It's a sure bet that "NEBRASKAland" will entice viewers to take a look at the state. Every corner of Nebraska comes into play. So does every attraction. Colorful vistas unfold in exciting array. Rodeo and powwow, wilderness stream and bustling city, duck blind and outboard all come to life, "teasers" for what the viewer can see and do in person during his next vacation.

Final selection of the scenes used in "NEBRASKAland" was a difficult one. Photographers Gene Hornbeck and Lou Ell blanketed the state OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   during the past two years, filming all facets of the Nebraska scene. Thousands of feet of film have been accumulated, a program that would continue several hours if unedited. Special thanks go to Ak-Sar~Ben and the Izaak Walton League. Both contributed funds in the final phases of filming to assure a top-notch production.

Backing up the tourist film is a brand new colored-slide series. The 214-inch slides, the very best in the Game Commission's collection of hundreds, offer a far more vivid picture than those formerly used. They, like the film, touch on every phase of the Nebraska outdoor recreation and vacation scene. Both a long or short version are available and are presented by Game Commission personnel. Bookings may be made at Game Commission district offices in Norfolk, Bassett, Alliance, and North Platte or the Wildlife Building in Lincoln.

OUTDOOR Nebraska readers are encouraged to get their reservations in early to show "NEBRASKAland" to their clubs, church groups, and other organizations. The same is true of the slide series. They're programs you won't want to miss, a chance to swell your chest a little at all that Nebraska has to offer.

OLDEST FISHERMAN

CHRIS LARSON squinted into the morning sun as he looked over the bridge. Below him Beaver Creek wound its way southward through the rolling countryside. In his 95 years, the elderly fisherman has seen a lot of water pass under that bridge. As near as anyone can tell, Chris is Nebraska's oldest angler. He stood for a moment, then walked down the bank.

At the edge of the creek Chris assembled his spinning outfit. "You know," he said, "I've had this outfit now for three years. I really don't know if it's an improvement or not. It's just like artificial lures. I've got quite a few of them, yet I don't think I've caught a thing with one of them. When you get right down to it, you just can't beat a worm."

Chris has lived most of his life near St. Edward. His family bought a quarter section south of there in Nance County 78 years ago. Chris was 17 then and helped drive the wagon from Wisconsin.

"We came out here between Christmas and New Year's," Chris said, getting ready to cast. "I remember it was snowing the day we arrived."

The elderly angler isn't what most people think of as an outdoorsman. He's 5 feet, 7 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. Only his strong, large hands set him apart from a man who might have spent his life behind a desk. He doesn't measure his years by the game he has shot nor the fish caught. Hunting and fishing have always been recreation, an escape for a few hours or days from the farm or business.

Even after all his years of fishing there are questions. "Why is it fish bite one day and not the next?" He didn't wait for an answer because he supposes there is none.

"A few years ago at Pibel Lake I caught 18 catfish," he continued. "The next day, using the same bait, I caught only one, and he got away."

This didn't bother Chris too much, however. Live one day to the next and fish the same way is his philosophy.

His only concession to age is a slight stoop. Chris' eyes are still clear blue. His skin is fair, with only his arms and throat dark from long days in the sun. He lives alone in a neat white house a few miles southeast of St. Edward.

How many fish has he caught in his lifetime?

"Goodness," he chuckled as he flipped the bait near a low-lying tree, "I don't have any idea. I've never counted the fish, just the pleasure."

Chris has done many things. Before his retirement 40 years ago he farmed, was an implement 20 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   dealer, sold hardware and furniture, and again farmed. He keeps busy. His house is clean and well cared for. In front of his porch there is a neat border of zinnias and rose of Sharon. In his home are intricate wood carvings he does in the winter months.

The old days are remembered. Not particularly with longing, but as life was then.

"That used to be the main road," he said, pointing across the creek. "Indians would pass by quite often. They seemed friendly enough, although people said they were sneaky and couldn't be trusted.

"I used to shoot prairie chickens out of a tree right near our home. I had a double-barrel, muzzle-loading shotgun. No matter how many you shot there were more. Now there doesn't seem to be as many."

A sly smile came across his face as Chris recounted his next experience.

"I remember the first pheasant I ever saw. I was visiting in Primrose when a farmer came into town with one he had shot. I wanted that bird real bad. I paid him $5 for it and had it mounted." He chuckled softly as he told the story, probably glad he hasn't had to pay for every pheasant he's seen since.

The old fisherman wasn't getting any takers, but that didn't bother him.

"When we came out here the only fish you could find were catfish. Now there are all kinds and lots more places to catch them. People should spend more time fishing. That's what fish are here for."

A bird darting low along the water drew his attention and he paused before continuing. "I read magazines like OUTDOOR Nebraska every month. That's the next-best thing to fishing, reading about it. You learn new ways to fish and new places to find them."

Chris doesn't just fish close to home as you might suspect. A few years ago he built a 12-foot rowboat and uses it today on his trips. When Chris hears of a hot spot he loads his tent into his 1949 car, hitches on the boat trailer, and is on his way. A recent trip with 68-year-old Tom Harris of St. Edward took him to Lake Maloney where they caught walleye, white bass, and perch. He said that it was too windy to go out the first two days, so they fished only one. But there was no bitterness in his voice. He takes his fishing as it comes.

The angler had spent most of an hour at the edge of the creek and hadn't got as much as a nibble. But he was as relaxed as if he had a fine catch to take home. As he stepped back on the bridge, a tractor came to a halt.

"Had any luck?" his friend asked.

Larson shook his head, then asked, "When are you going?"

"Can't, there's too much work to do," was the answer.

"It would do him good to take time off and go fishing." Chris said, as the tractor drove off. "Work can wait."

At his home Chris shook hands at his front door with a firm, hearty grip. 'Tm going to take a nap. Then this afternoon I think I'll go into town and see Tom Harris. We're due for another fishing trip real soon."

THE END

FUN WITH FEATHERS

NEBRASKA'S game birds offer the creative housewife a fascinating new hobby that promises hours of enjoyment. With a little imagination, she can use the varied-hued feathers of pheasants, mallards, and other birds in making stationery, note paper, and place cards as individual as her signature.

Featherwork is not a new craft. Nor is it limited to stationery. I've made feather corsages, earrings, hats, and other unique items that reflect nature's beauty. The trick is to collect the feathers that will lend themselves to the different designs and then start cutting and gluing.

Once you get into the swing of things, you'll have personalized stationery that will be a joy to send. Many of my friends have told me how they look forward to my letters, as much for the design as the message. And because so many have expressed an interest, I now make special gift packets for Christmas and birthdays.

The gaudy ringneck is especially adaptable to this craft. His cape of rich rusts, browns, oranges, blues, and greens offers a variety of opportunities. The varied-hued feathers can be used for flower petals, butterfly wings, exotic fish, and even a turtle shell. There are only three or four feathers on each bird that can be used for this latter design.

Save feathers throughout the hunting seasons. When picking the birds, sort the different sizes, colors, and patterns into individual jars. If you prefer skinning birds, have the cape treated. Then you can snip off feathers as needed.

Designs are not hard to come by. You'll get a lot of ideas from magazines and cards. When you see one that looks like it might be adaptable, trace it for future use. My husband made me a tracing box so that I can transpose the design to blank stationery in quick order. It is no more than a wooden box with a light inside and a glass top.

Water colors, inks, and crayons work well in finishing the design. Gold and silver inks are especially pretty with the feathers. The important thing is to use a minimum of illustration, letting the feathers make up the major portion of the design.

Selecting the right feathers for each job is important. Some can be glued on as is, while others must be carefully snipped such as those used in my 22 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   goldfish stationery. Feathers are easily trimmed to shape, however, if you use a pair of sharp scissors. They also split easily, so must be handled carefully.

A clear, fast-drying glue should be used to attach the feathers. You could probably commandeer a tube from your boy's model airplane gear. Use the glue sparingly. Put on too much and it will come through the feathers, making a sloppy job. I use a toothpick as an applicator to solve this problem. It keeps the stickly stuff from getting on my fingers, something that you can't allow to happen.

Featherwork is a very economical hobby. The cash outlay is next to nothing. The main needs are lots of free time, patience, a steady hand, and a good collection of feathers. I should emphasize that you don't have to be an artist for featherwork. I have a teaching background in home economics, for example.

I'm waiting for my husband, Harold, to start bringing home the birds so I can begin another season with my favorite hobby. Once you get into the swing of things, you'll be counting the birds, too. By Christmas you should be far enough along to be making gift packets. Before that, you'll be sending out letters with that personal touch that is truly appreciated.

FOR THE BIRDS

NEBRASKA ABOUNDS with outdoor recreation opportunities, a fact recognized by the entire nation. No one need be told of the fabulous upland-game-bird hunting, excellent fishing, or fine water sports, but few are aware of the opportunity to study wildlife, birds in particular.

Most agree that Nebraska ranks among the top five states with the number of species of birds. Many, known as bird watchers, birders, and ornithologists, are taking advantage of this abundance. A few are going a step farther and doing scientific studies. For the most part, this is done for sheer satisfaction rather than any monetary gain.

Bird banding is one of the scientific studies followed. Numbered bracelets are placed on birds to identify them in much the same manner as automobiles are given license plates. No two birds ever have the same serial number. Bands are made from strips of aluminum which are placed loosely around the bird's leg.

Catching birds for banding isn't done by the age-old method of sprinkling salt on their tails, but rather by traps of various types. Wire cages baited with grain or water and Japanese mist nets are among the gear used. Before being issued a permit to use the nets one must have special training in their use.

Some birders are interested in catching only certain species, but the majority of those doing the work as a hobby hope to band all varieties. The challenge is ever present to catch as many as possible. There are no limits and the bander can operate year-round. In fact, the bander is encouraged to get as many birds as possible. The more that are caught, the greater the facts accumulated.

Such studies reveal the life span of certain species, give a pattern of migration routes followed, 24 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   offer an understanding of movements of birds, and many other facts. From such information the hunter learns which routes will be followed by mallards raised in the potholes of Manitoba, how long a pheasant can be expected to live, or where a prairie chicken stays in the winter.

Facts and information are compiled in the banding office of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service office at Laurel, Maryland, or by the Game Commission here. Records of all banders, or co-operators, are sent in annually to be compiled and analyzed for new information.

A bander is not only interested in the number of birds or species he can band or catch, but also in the number of birds that return to his banding station season after season. No one except another co-operator can understand the thrill in catching a bird and finding that it has already been banded by him a season, or even five or six seasons earlier. It's like having an old friend return.

No doubt every hunter has shot a banded bird at least once in his lifetime. Unfortunately, some are not aware of why the bird was banded and fail to present the requested facts to proper authorities. All migratory birds, whether game or song birds, are under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Service. Nonmigratory birds, except song birds, are under state jurisdiction. Both federal and state bands are imprinted, advising the finder where to send his report.

Species, date, place, how taken (shot, found dead, killed by cat, etc.), band number, and the name and address should be sent to the appropriate agency. It is requested that the band also be returned to be sure the number is accurately read. In turn, the sender will receive complete information as to when and where the bird was banded, at what age, by whom, and if requested, the band as a souvenir.

To participate one must obtain a permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service. Qualifications are rigid for the study would have little or no value if birds were incorrectly identified and handled or records poorly kept. A state permit is issued by the Game Commission upon presentation of proper qualifications. An annual report must be submitted to the Fish and Wildlife Service while a report must be made each six months to the Game Commission.

Much knowledge is gained from the project. Often a species not known to be in the area is caught. A bird might be taken in a season when not normally present or return to nest in the same area year aftei year. Much is also learned about species that sometimes cause economic losses.

The greatest benefit probably comes from working with game birds. Most of this banding is done by either state or federal employees. It is by banding that an understanding of migration routes, survival, and many other facts are learned. These serve as a guide in setting seasons.

Birds are sometimes color-marked for special studies. Movement may be followed when special markings make it possible to distinguish one bird from another. This is done by gluing a colored feather in the wing or tail, or by attaching colored plastic pieces or strips to the bird's wing, shoulder, or bill. All such marked birds should be reported to either the state or federal agencies.

The opportunity to enjoy the sport of banding birds is great in Nebraska. However, few are participating. Most co-operators are men, but a number of women are also enjoying the hobby. But be it in your back yard or afield, banding is still another way to enjoy NEBRASK Aland.

ROCK CREEK

AMONG THE gently swaying cottonwoods and box elders, tents are beginning to dot the grassy camping sites of Rock Creek Recreation Area. Every now and then a new car arrives, unloading for the night. License plates read from all over the United States, with folks congregating here to spend the night or to rest for a short time before resuming their trip.

At one tent, visitors from Illinois are rounding up their children in time for the evening meal. A couple from Colorado has stopped to rest a while before the final lap of the journey home.

During the summer months, this scene is a regular occurrence at Rock Creek. Nine miles north of Parks off U. S. Highway 34, the area is ideal for travelers looking for a place to spend the night or to relax for a while. Picnic tables, fireplaces, water, and toilet facilities are all readily available.

Rock Creek is off the beaten path, set in the midst of the gently rolling hills of the southwestern corner of Nebraska. Seclusion is the keynote here. No nearby highway traffic interferes with its quiet; no towns put it in close contact with civilization.

If fishing is your forte, the area's lake is waiting to accommodate you. The 50-acre impoundment, created by the damming of Rock Creek, features bass and panfish. Natives can tell you about the good fishing it provides. There's always plenty of elbow-room around the shore line, and if you prefer your fishing from a rowboat, that, too, can be done. However, motorboats are not permitted and there are no rental boats available.

After a leisurely day of fishing on the lake, there's nothing better than a fish fry on the shore. Among the trees are numerous fireplaces where your catch can be fried to a crispy goodness, sending its aroma through the air.

Though the area is some distance from the main thoroughfare, a blue-and-white sign on U. S. Highway 34 marks the turnoff to Rock Creek. From here 26 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   a dirt road winds its way through typical sagebrush-studded western terrain. During bad weather the road often becomes a problem, making the southwestern recreation area inaccessible in times of extremely heavy rain.

Rock Creek has an important part to play in the southwestern Nebraska recreation picture. Future plans call for many improvements. Among them is the piping of spring water to all the campgrounds there. At present, drinking water is piped to only one side of the lake for the use of picnickers and campers.

The Benkelman-Rock Creek Fish Hatchery is only two miles north of the recreation area on the same county road and welcomes visitors. Specializing primarily in rainbow and brown trout, the hatchery has recently begun production of Kokanee salmon for stocking in Lake McConaughy and Lake Ogallala. Open seven days a week, hatchery tours are available for those who want to see the fish-production facilities in operation.

While visiting Benkelman-Rock Creek, many people picnic at the nearby recreation area, or camp there for the weekend or overnight. With facilities located so close to the hatchery, it's a natural as a stopping-off place.

This is Rock Creek Recreation Area, specializing in fishing, camping, and picnicking. If you're traveling U. S. Highway 34, plan to stop for a while, either for the fun of camping out under a real western sky, or for a relaxing spot to rest before resuming your journey.

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5,000 Firearm Bargains

SPEAK UP

"Do boys under 16 need to have a person possessing a hunting license and stamp with them when they go hunting? Can they go by themselves on their father's land or land owned by their neighbors, with their permission? Also, what guns may be used?"—Elvin Marrill, Minatare.

Resident hunters under 16 are not required by law to have a licensed hunter accompanying them. It is left to the discretion of their parents or guardian to provide for their safety. Either a shotgun or a bow and arrow may be used for hunting upland-game birds and waterfowl -Editor.

"Thought some of your readers would like to know a few of the interesting features about a screech owl He has a swivel head that is capable of turning 270 degrees. His eyes possess an extra pair of eyelids that move horizontally like windshield wipers. A pair of screech owls will eat several hundred mice in a year and are therefore important in the control of rodents."—W. M. Haggen, Omaha.

"I would like to take this opportunity to say that I enjoy your articles about hunting and fishing, and also those about spots of interest in our state. Included in these should be an article about a place of much local color and educational interest. I am speaking of Klay Kraft Pottery Company, Milford. It is within easy driving distance of Lincoln and is located on Highway US 6."—Mike Morilz, Milford.

"Read in your December number an article about my great-grandfather—Nebraska's Strong Man. Antoine Barada. I have heard my father speak of the different things he did. He is buried about 13 miles north of Falls City near the little town of Barada that was named in his honor.

According to the Transactions and Reports of the Nebraska Historical Society, Vol II, 28 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   1887, Antoine Barada raised a family consisting of three hoys and four girls—Michael, William, and Thomas Barada, Mrs. Fulton Peters, Mrs. John Dupree, Mrs. William Provost, and Mrs. John Kuhn.

Barada's exciting and colorful life came to our attention when Nora Barada Murphy of White Cloud, Kansas, requested any information that we might have about her great-grandfather—Antoine Barada.—Editor.

"Is it illegal in Nebraska to use dogs to dig raccoons out of their dens?"—Gary Kenfield, Big Springs.

The raccoon is not classified either as a game or fur-hearing animal, therefore, there are no restrictions as to the way he may he taken. It's a different story on recognized fur hearers. The law reads that "it is unlawful to mutilate or destroy the house or den of any fur-hearing animal; or cut down or into any tree containing the nest or den of any fur-hearing animal for the purpose of capturing, taking, or killing such animal; or to use spears or any like device in hunting or taking fur-hearing animals, or to use explosives, chemicals, or smokers of any kind to drive fur-hearing animals out of their holes, dens, or houses. —Editor.

"I am very much against the new law that requires us to keep our fish on separate stringers or in separate containers. When we go fishing there are usually four or five of us using the same cooler in one car. We should be allowed to take proper care of our fish after catching them.

"When we stay overnight and when some are caught so hard they die, icing our catch-down in a cooler is the only way we can keep them from being wasted."—W. L. Golden, Hastings.

Actually there is no great change in regulations since an individual can only have in his possession the legal daily hag or possession limit of fish.

Anglers that are obviously fishing together, as from a boat, need not worry about being arrested for having more than their legal limit; providing they do not have more than the combined legal limit for the number of persons in the group actively engaged in fishing. However, if the group decides to split up, each angler is required to take with him the fish he has caught.

This law does not restrict the use of one cooler by several persons. Two or more fishermen placing their catch in a cooler is the same as two or more hunters placing their hag in the trunk of an automobile.—Editor.

"Why doesn't the state stock catfish in Turkey Creek in Saline County? I own some land there and haven't caught a catfish for three years. I am 74 years old and don't go 100 miles to fish and hunt."—John A. Fritz, Wilber.

It's surprising that you haven't caught any catfish. Turkey Creek is one of the better catfishing waters in the state with anglers consistently reporting good catches. Stocking adult game fish is a question of economics, and what the fisherman wants for his permit dollar. The cost of stocking adult catfish would run about $1 per pound.—Editor.

"THE PICTURE on page 12 of the August issue of OUTDOOR Nebraska has an inaccuracy. The caption reads, 'Eighty-yard shots pincushion the target.' It cannot be correct because an 80-yard target has one single 24-inch face. This looks like a 25 or 30-yard target and a 12-inch face. This is a really fine article, however."—Carl B. Hasenyager, Omaha Archery Club, Omaha.

LEE LOADERS

CENTRAL GUN Inc

hunters

GOLD IN THE MISSOURI

for shore, chalking up another afternoon to fun rather than profit. But on this day the boat remained at anchor until near dusk and the two were too excited to eat even a late dinner at their camp. The skin diver, having left the ingot aboard, began diving again.

Five times he returned, each time with another ingot. Other relics and many artifacts were also unearthed from the river bottom. By the time the last traces of light vanished, a huge cache had been found and hoisted aboard.

It had taken the diver only a few days to locate the approximate spot at which the old steamboat had sunk and disintegrated. The relics of the debris and the huge smokestack attracted his attention first. The name, date of sinking, or any other historical information were unknown, but the craft was probably one of the early Mississippi River steamboats which carried merchandise and gold and silver bullion, as well as specie, northward to the Missouri River in the early days of settlement and exploration of the West.

The fishing was mighty good. But it was only an example of a skin diver unearthing treasure underwater, employing a relatively small open boat. It is happening quite regularly throughout the United States, where skin divers have made a recreational vocation both adventurous and profitable. Most treasure finds are not spread across the headlines. The modern treasure hunter is like his bygone counterparts. He doesn't want anyone else snooping around his find.

Numerous such discoveries, seldom as large as this example, occur along the waters of these two rivers. Historians estimate that some 400 paddle wheelers went down in the Missouri alone during the heyday of the steamboat era.

This incident is used to focus attention on a special treasure cache for skin divers who reside in the vicinity of eastern Nebraska along the Missouri. If they possess nothing more than a one or two-tank scuba outfit they've used for (continued on page 32)

CONGRESS INN

OUTDOOR ELSEWHERE

WASHINGTON, D. C. . . . The charter issue of National Wildlife, published by the National Wildlife Federation, will be introduced in December. The new magazine, a bimonthly with a minimum of 48 pages, will be sent only to the national sportsmans clubs' members.

Individuals can join the organization by submitting an application along with the $5 per year subscription fee for the magazine. In addition to the six issues of National Wildlife, new members will be given the opportunity to receive other services of the federation.

National Wildlife will approach the subjects of recreation and conservation on a national level from the point of view of interested spectators as well as active participants, the back-yard naturalist as much as the far-ranging traveler of the wildest back country. Each issue will feature 16 pages of color art work and photography.

Details on membership may be obtained by writing: Magazine, 1412 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington 6, D. C.

PENNSYLVANIA ... If there is a Civil Defense or Red Cross for mallards, there's a Pennsylvania hen who certainly needed it recently. After laying 13 eggs in her nest near the edge of a pond and starting to incubate them, heavy rains and rising water forced her to evacuate. Using all her resources, the hen managed to build a new nest on higher and drier ground and move the eggs to it. But all ended well when 11 hale and hearty ducklings hatched.

PENNSYLVANIA . . . Things are rough all over, judging from the condition of several songbirds at a Venango County feeding station. Among the 300 birds visiting the station is a one-legged-starling, a one-legged cardinal, and an evening grosbeak with only one eye. Looks like humans aren't the only ones who are always getting into scrapes.

CALIFORNIA ... A dead female brown trout found recently in California's Baum Lake set a new record—a record old age. Scale readings showed the 17-pound, 33-inch fish to be over 10 years old. It had died from natural causes attributed to old age. Could be it's just as true among fish as humans that the females outlive the males.

Duck and Goose Shooting

BIG HILL CAMP

SIMON'S

PACIFIC'S NEW DL-150

LAULOR'S

SURPLUS CENTER

GOLD IN THE MISSOURI

sport in spear fishing, and do not want to go far afield, here is an opportunity to make a search for such treasure as keg whiskey, quicksilver, and some gold and silver specie.

Believe it or not, every bit of this enticing loot is scattered in jumbled heaps along the water stretch just off Michaelson's Point, near the one-time existing town of DeSoto, just four miles south of Blair. This is a real budget treasure hunting. Outside of the initial $200 investment for gear, the only other cost would be the purchase of a metal locator or detector. Any of the units presently available would be suitable to obtain the preliminary location site of the long-submerged hulk of the Bertrand.

It was Saturday evening, April 1, 1865, when the stern-wheel steamboat Bertrand, while slowly easing southward, struck a snag in the DeSoto Bend, Portage La Force, and sank within 10 minutes in 24 feet of water.

The small craft was 160 feet in length and 30 feet in breadth, engaged in trade between St. Louis and the outpost of Fort Benton. She was owned and operated by Copelins & Company and skippered by an experienced steamboat master, Captain James Yores.

The river at this point is very uncertain and shifty. During the rainy season it may be hugging 32 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   the Nebraska bank one day and within a couple of weeks be one-half mile or more over into Iowa.

The wreck, which should be still somewhat intact, is resting on the bottom. lbs buried in several feet of deep mire and ooze, having settled after all these years to a depth of at least 10 or 12 feet deeper than where she originally sank. The sternwheeler is under a sand bar resting on bed rock.

Shortly after the close of World War II, a group of veterans made a feeble attempt to locate the Bertrand using mine detectors. Their efforts were confined to the Iowa side of the Missouri, and they were unsuccessful. However, they did locate and recover some small timbers of an early craft.

A few years ago, the mother of Rollin Smith, wife of an old pioneer, still resided at Blair. She remem bered hearing about the Bertrand from her husband. Michaelson's Point was near her father's home when she was a young girl.

If you're ready to go after this treasure, look for signs of some 5,000 gallons of keg whiskey in oaken casks. The gold and silver specie will be in the usual master's safety-box. It amounts to nearly $40,000. Another $100,000 in quicksilver will be contained in earthenware carboys. You'll be more successful with skin-diving apparatus rather than a suit-and-helmet rig. The water is not too deep and the current is exceptionally slow seasonally.

It is there, one of Nebraska's most easily salvaged treasures, waiting for the lucky skin diver. Good fishing, good treasure hunting.

Thanks to the Nebraska Lions . . . OUTDOOR Nebraska ...goes around the World

OUTDOOR Nebraska will take an extended year-long world tour, compliments of the Nebraska Lions Club. This is the Lions way of promoting the state, according to Jack Critchfield, state secretary of the national organization.

Some 670 district governors in 112 countries as well as the 50 states will receive one-vear subscriptions to the magazine, the state's most informative outdoor recreation and vacation guide.

Annually each regional Lions Club throughout the world gives a gift to the incoming and outgoing governors. Critchfield and the rest of the Nebraska Lions felt that they could give nothing better than OUTDOOR Nebraska, long one of the state's leading emissaries to the rest of the world.

Nebraska has 150 clubs with a total membership of 5,000. The state's district governors are Eddie Howerter, Bushnell; Howard Goble, Sargent; Henry Roose, Omaha; Julius Meitzner, Hildreth; and Fred Romig, Superior.

Prairie Maid

RALSTON TRAILER RENTAL

note son Nebraska fauna

SKINK

DESCRIBED BY some as being half snake and half lizard, the skink is a most unusual member of Nebraska's family of native animals. The Great Plains skink, Eumeces obsoletus, is one of the more common native members of this group. He is found across most of the southern half of the state and limited numbers occur in other areas.

These unusual lizards are smooth skinned, shiny in appearance, alert, and quite active. The Great Plains, or Sonora skink, is easily identified by the oblique rows of scales on the side as opposed to horizontal scale rows found on other skinks. These extend upward and backward from the legs.

Colorwise, the skink is not as drab as many of its lizard relatives. The base or ground color varies from light tan to light gray, and almost every scale is fringed with a black or dark brown spot. Alignment of these dark edges often gives a false appearance of longitudinal stripes that are common in many of the other skinks and most lizards that are found in the United States.

A cream color dominates the lizard's side coloration pattern, although it is sometimes flecked irregularly with pink or salmon orange from the ear opening to the tail area. The underside is unmarked and uniformly cream or pale yellow.

In size, the adults vary from 6V2 to over 12 inches in length. Most of the length is made up on an unusually long tail that may reach 1V2 times the body length. This is not always true, however, since the 34 OUTDOOR NEBRASKA   tail may be broken off easily and may be missing or in some stage of being regenerated.

Young skinks are about 21/2 inches long when they emerge from the egg and differ greatly in coloration. They are mostly black with orange spots on top and white spots on the face and around the ear openings. The tail of young lizards has a blue over-all color that gradually diminishes with age.

Found generally in rocky or timbered areas, this skink is often seen under rock slabs, in crevices, under the bark of decaying fallen trees, within and beneath logs, and under boards and other surface objects. In Nebraska, they are found both in wooded creek bottoms, hillsides, and on grassland plains.

Although quite secretive, the Great Plains skink is known to inhabit suitable environments across the southern border of Nebraska, and is suspected to range into the Sand Hills along stream courses.

When captured or threatened, the lizard is aggressive and prone to bite, although its teeth are not capable of inflicting a serious wound. The skink's tail serves indirectly in his defense. It breaks off when caught, which tends to distract the pursuer while the lizard escapes. The disjointed tail wriggles violently for several minutes, giving the animal adequate time to seek safety.

When a lizard loses its tail it usually breaks across one of the many fracture planes in the several specialized tail vertebrae. Muscles are so arranged at these spots that they immediately close the blood vessels at that point and keep the loss of blood to a minimum. A regenerated tail will not be quite as long as the original, but it will again be available to distract the enemy if the need arises.

Occasionally a broken tail may not be completely severed but injured enough to allow another to be produced. The result of such an accident is a forked tail. The regenerated tail is always of a subdued or otherwise altered color pattern. The scales differ from the size and form of those on the original.

Favorite haunts are often in areas infested with numerous burrowing mammals. The rodents unintentionally provide a variety of food items. The skink's menu includes spiders, insects such as beetles, crickets, and grasshoppers, caterpillars, and smaller lizards. Occasionally the larger individuals might manage to eat small bird eggs or baby mice from an unattended nest. Captive skinks have done well on a diet of insects and other arthropods and periodic tidbits of raw meat dipped in a beaten egg.

Active primarily during the daylight hours, the skink forages over a considerable area in search of food. He takes shelter under debris, decaying logs, and rocks at night and during periods of bad weather or high temperatures. Often he seeks moist, sheltered spots during extended periods of low humidity and hot weather.

Contrary to popular belief that lizards prefer higher temperatures than other animals, the skink as well as most lizards start looking for refuge when the temperature nears 100 degrees. The common misconception probably stems from an abundance of lizards in arid and semiarid regions. Their habit of basking, and their presence on rock and other surfaces that are uncomfortable to the touch only adds to the belief. If a basking skink is watched, however, it will be seen that he does not remain long on a hot surface.

Courtship activities of skinks and other lizards are impressive due to the intricate maneuvers that are necessary for a successful union. Breeding starts in April and extends through the middle of June, with most activity occurring in mid-May. After about a month the female selects a moist, sheltered nesting spot under a rock slab, log, or other surface object, and lays 7 to 21 soft oval eggs. Through the 5 to 6-week incubation period, the female tends the nest, although she has no function other than protection from predators.

The skink's eyesight is exceptionally good; much better than man's. His lens-squeezing mechanism which enables him to focus on close objects should be the envy of those persons who, with increasing age, have been forced to wear glasses to compensate for a loss of elasticity in the lens of the eye. Quick eye actions are of great value, since the skink seldom eats an object he has not caught while in motion.

Although the Great Plains skink is not overly abundant in Nebraska, his presence usually goes completely unnoticed. Due to his secretive habits and curious nature, this slick-skinned lizard is one of the less known individuals in Nebraska's list of native fauna.

HUNTING SEASONS