Decorate

your home, office and place of business with Color Prints and Murals from NEBRASKAland magazine

Capture the beauty of NEBRASKAland with this wide assortment of photographic masterpieces. New from the cameras of NEBRASKAland magazine photographers. Select the scenes that match your decor from giant 38 1/2"x58" murals, 16"x20" "G" series, and 20" x 24" "P" series prints in living color. Makes the perfect gift, too! Each size features four different NEBRASKAland scenes. Mural series "M" only $7.95 each, "G" prints 75 cents each or set of 4 for $2.50, and "P" series prints $1 each or set of 4 for $3.50 postpaid. Order by number today.

M-1 "Pine Ridge Reflections" M-2 "Beeves in the Sand Hills" M-3 "Butte Country" M-4 "NEBRASKAland Ringnecks" P-l "The Deer Hunters" P-2 "The Big Country" P-3 "Platte of Plenty5 P-4 "The Quiet Way' G-l "Snake Falls" G-2 "The Tall Pines" G-3 "Down in the Valley' G-4 "Smith Falls" NEBRASKAland State Capitol Lincoln, Nebraska 68509 Enclosed is $ check or money order for the prints or murals circled: NAME. ADDRESS CITY STATE. ZIP. (Dealers: ask for special wholesale rates)

SPEAK UP

INTRODUCING THE PHEASANT—"In your December issue of NEBRASKAland you had a letter in SPEAK UP in which Mr. Hartby of Otis, Colorado, states that the first pheasants in Nebraska were in the possession of a Dr. Cone of Oxford in May of 1920. I would like to make the statement that the first pheasant eggs to my knowledge were brought in from Washington in May of 1910 to Charles and Mrlvia Hockreiter at Ravenna, Nebraska. "If anyone has any information concerning an earlier date, please notify Bill Hockreiter at North Loup, Nebraska." —Bill Hockreiter, North Loup.

SPOTTED PICTURES—"I have been a subscriber to NEBRASKAland for the past four or five years, and do thoroughly enjoy the articles in the publication.

"I have been especially delighted with the color pictures which you place more and more generously in the magazine. I was particularly pleased with the shots of wildlife in the January issue, until I turned the page to open up the pages 26-27. From there on I have but two pictures, and the rest are a dead loss as a result of what looks like blistering water spots or separation of the paper finish from the stock.

"It looks to me that I have been a victim of a poor printing process, scrap stock, and certainly of poor inspection. I think the pictures were great, but I wouldn't show them to anyone unless it was as a joke and to poke fun at the publication. That would not be good for Nebraska.

"I belong to several camera groups in Chicago, and for at least the past dozen years my principal hobby has been color photography. The stuff you have in this issue is great, but thoroughly ruined by the technician, and failure to inspect, or check your material.

"I certainly think I am entitled to a good copy of the magazine. As a photographer, I'd most definitely be unhappy with the manner of reproduction of my color shots, should they appear as in the January 6 NEBRASKAland. "—Peter P. Schneider, Chicago.

Even in this age of automation, most assembly lines turn out an occasional lemon. The printing industry is no exception. A close check is maintained on the various inks, chemicals, and temperatures involved in producing NEBRASKAland. But a poor copy or two can slip through even the most critical inspection and the best printing press. Our apologies to Mr. Schneider.—Editor.

MIX-UP—"I have a favor to ask. In February's NEBRASKAland, there is a letter of mine in SPEAK UP which is critical of the Game Commission's efforts to attract non-resident hunters to Nebraska.

"Many readers thought my father, Paul L. Laverack, wrote that letter and when he received the complimentary copies of NEBRASKAland he was upset. He is a fine man and will not knowingly hurt or offend anyone in any way.

"Will you set the record straight? My father had absolutely nothing to do with the letter. It is mine and expresses my personal views.

"I have been reading NEBRASKAland for four or five years and have always enjoyed it."—Paul M. Laverack, Beaver City.

RINGNECK MEMORIES—"In the SPEAK UP section of your December issue, there is a letter on the history of ringneck pheasants in Nebraska. Pheasants were raised in Nebraska prior to World War I.

"My father, Jackson M. Grace, served in the Nebraska State Senate from 1912 to 1916. During that period, he was given some ringnecks which he took home to raise. This was a Nebraska project. Each senator was given some pheasants to be taken to many parts of the state to see if they could be raised in Nebraska. We raised them for four or five years. During that time, we turned many out to go wild. In 1918, we turned loose all that we had, about 50. They lived around there for years. I have no doubt that some of the pheasants that are there now were descendants of the ones we raised.

"The ringnecks we had were raised on our farm at Mascot. Mascot is a little town in Harlan County just five miles east of Oxford. It is a very small town and I doubt that few Nebraskans have heard of it.

"I have been a subscriber of your magazine for many years. I enjoy it very much and it brings back some fond memories of my home state.''—Harvey E. Grace, West Covina, California.

Records of private pheasant stocking are incomplete, but it is known that Charles Partridge of Ord reared and released about 135 pheasants in 1909. The state brought in several dozen birds about 1915. In 1926 and 1927, 45,000 ringnecks were captured in central Nebraska and moved to other parts of the state. The first reports of ringnecks here were during 1900 to 1904, when some were reported shot in southeast Nebraska, near the Kansas line. They were probably strays from that state. The present Nebraska pheasant population dates back to a very few birds.—Editor.

SCOTTSBLUFF BOOSTER—"I enjoy your magazine, but wonder if you ever looked over the Scottsbluff area as a source of material? There is Hiram Scott College just organized that will have 5,000 students in five years. Also, a new hospital has been built, and there is Lockwood Graders of Gering, the foremost manufacturer of potato grading machinery in the world with plants in several states and in Holland. Couplematic at Lyman is the largest hydraulic coupling manufacturer in the world, and it's getting larger each year with sales all over the world. Holloway Museum at Henry has the largest collection of valuable items in the Midwest. This is one of the best agricultural areas anywhere.

"If you cover the Scottsbluff vicinity, let me know and I will want the issue."—Willis Hedgecock, Henry.

MAY Roundup

From Shrine Circus to campus capers, this merry month of flowers is a swinger

MAY IN NEBRASKAland runs a gamut of activities. It is the jump-off for an exciting and fun-filled summer. Fireside coziness is gone. The action is out-of-doors now that the landscape has turned to green. Up go the gates and the horses are off on the one mile track at Ak-Sar-Ben Field in Omaha. Beginning May 6, at 2 p.m., thoroughbreds will streak by the grandstand nine times a day. On Thursdays the races begin at 3:30. No racing on Sundays or Mondays, except Monday, May 30, Memorial Day, and Monday, July 4.

May 9 through 14 will ring with brass bands as the Shrine Circus sets up shop at the State Fairgrounds in Lincoln. One of the exciting features of this Shrine-sponsored extravaganza is Jean Charles Zerbini. An eighth generation lion tamer, Zerbini replaces the late Clyde Beatty in the center ring.

Classes at Omaha University will be suspended on May 13 as students observe Ma-Ie Day, the Indian festival of spring planting. This annual student holiday isn't for loafing in the park, however, but for campus-centered activity. Sleep will end early when students powwow at a sunrise dance at 7 a.m. A student-selected princess, adorned in a 20-pound buckskin robe decorated with sequins and beads, rules over the day. After a parade through downtown Omaha, it's back to campus for contests and a windup to the fun day with afternoon and evening dances.

At the University of Nebraska, three Big-8 Conference games will see the Big Red baseball team swinging on May 13 and 14. Opening time for the doubleheader with the University of Colorado on Friday, May 13, is 1:30 p.m., followed by the Saturday single at 1 p.m.

If the weatherman cooperates, the State Fairgrounds race track will provide space for zooming auto races on May 29. Time trials start at 1:30 p.m. Racing roars away at 2 p.m.

Five hundred athletes from Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Colorado, Iowa, and South Dakota will gather at Haymaker Stadium in Cozad on Memorial Day for the Widwest Federation Track Championship meet. The University of Nebraska freshman and varsity teams will flash the Husker spirit in competition for women, junior, and collegiate athletes.

Those who spent the winter indoors have something to show for their time. Kearney State College hosts a State Craftsman's Fair May 5 through 7. Junior and senior high school students will display crafts made during the school year.

Outstanding boys and girls in the Lincoln high schools will be recognized for excellence in 13 categories on May 6. The 11th annual youth day program is sponsored by the Elk's Lodge.

Boy Scout groups in Lincoln, David City, Seward, York, Beatrice, and Auburn will hold expositions May 6 and 7, to demonstrate scouting in action. More than 4,000 Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Explorers at Lincoln will be entertained by the Wacisa Indian dancers. Omaha Scouts will hold an exposition at Civic Auditorium May 19 through 22. The three-day event will be highlighted by the local Ahamo Indian dancers and a group of nationally known Koshare Indian dancers from LaJunta, Colorado.

Talented young musicians in the Omaha area will join for the annual Omaha Symphony Youth Orchestra concert on May 15, at 3 p.m., in Concert Hall of the Joslyn Art Museum.

Budding Michelangelos among Omaha junior and senior high school students will exhibit nearly 1,000 pieces of flatwork and 3-dimensional art during the Omaha Public School Art Exhibit at Joslyn Art Museum, May 15 through June 8.

Students of music will also have a chance to "strut their stuff" at a Theory Recital, May 15, at the University of Nebraska. Original compositions by students of music theory spark the 4 p.m. program at the Nebraska Union. The University of Nebraska Art Department will present its annual student art show May 17 through June 27 at Sheldon Art Gallery. More than 150 students will be represented.

A whirl of musical and theatrical productions during May will satisfy the NEBRASKAland fine arts buff. And ready to house the music and art departments of Wesleyan University is the new $1.2 million Auditorium and Fine Arts Center. Open house is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m., on May 1. Creighton University will also dedicate a new $3.5 million two building complex May 1. Parents Day on campus will be the occasion for viewing of the Anne Kiewit Residence Hall for women and the Charles E. Becker Dining Hall. There will be "shootin' in them thar hills" when the Creighton Players present "Dark of the Moon". Four performances are scheduled. On May 1 and 2 and again on the 6th and 7th.

The audience will spend an evening in 16th Century England when Lincoln Community Playhouse presents Shakespeare's "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream", May 13-15, and May 17-22. This wild Elizabethan comedy with a cast of 25 is based on several love stories, each one satirizing the others. A critique of the two-act play is scheduled for May 25 at the annual meeting of the Lincoln Community Playhouse membership.

Two foreign films are scheduled for May NEBRASKAland viewing. Greece is the scene of "Stella", the monthly presentation of Joslyn Art Museum film program. The movie begins at 7:45 p.m., May 5, at Recital Hall. The last film of the season offered by the University of Nebraska Foreign Film Society is the Italian "Red Desert" on May 11 at the Nebraska Theater.

It will be a musical month across the state. Carl Weinrich, world-famous organist and director of music in the University Chapel at Princeton, will be in concert May 1 at the dedication of Concordia College's Music Center at Seward. On May 11, Roger Miller, one of the nation's top western and modern folk singers, will entertain at Pershing Municipal Auditorium in Lincoln.

Also in the capital city on May 22, will be a presentation of Bloch's "Sacred Service", by a massed chorus of the University of Nebraska city campus choral organizations. On May 28, members of the Male Choir and Concordia Singers of Concordia College will present Henry Purcell's Old English opera, "Didi Aeneas", and then sing their way to a modern satire of the James Bond 007 theme.

The end of the month sees the beginnings of the historical Spring Festival at Brownville. Opening date is May 29. Memorial Day observances include a commemoration program at Bayard, sponsored by the Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion. THE END

6 NEBRASKAland

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green STAMPS (Void in states where prohibited by law) Cooper Cooper The O. A. COOPER COMPANY, Humboldt Beatrice, Cozad, Nebr. HOME OFFICE: HUMBOLDT, NEBRASKA 8 NEBRASKAland WHAT TO DO May 1—Omaha—Parents Day, Creighton University 1—Lincoln—University Singers Con- cert, University of Nebraska Open house at Auditorium and Fine Arts Center, Nebraska Wesleyan University 1—Seward—Carl Weinrich in Organ Concert, Concordia College 1-2, 6-7—Omaha—"Dark of the Moon", Creighton University 3—Lincoln—Golf, Nebraska vs. Creigh- ton, Omaha, and Washburn Uni- versities 4—Seward—Music Faculty Recital, Concordia College 4—Lincoln—Pro-Wrestling, Pershing Municipal Auditorium 5—Omaha—"Stella", Joslyn Art Mu- seum 5—Lincoln—Orchestra Recital, University of Nebraska 5-7—Kearney—State Craftsman's Fair 6—Lincoln—Honors Convocation and May Fete, Nebraska Wesleyan Uni- versity Youth Day Program, Elk's Lodge Spring Day, Orchestra Recital, Uni- versity of Nebraska 6-7—Lincoln—Cornhusker Council Boy Scout Exposition, State Fair- grounds 6-7—Kearney—I nvitational High School Debate Tournament, Kear- ney State College 6-July 4—Omaha—Horse Racing, Ak- Sar-Ben Track 7—Lincoln—26th Annual Square Dance Festival, Pershing Municipal Auditorium Ivy Day, University of Nebraska 7—Sidney—Miss Fort Sidney Days Pageant 7—Hebron—State High School Sand Greens Golf Tournament 8—Seward—Concordia College Or- chestra Concert, Concordia College 9-14—Lincoln—Shrine Circus, State Fairgrounds 10—Lincoln—Madrigal Concert, University of Nebraska 11—Lincoln—Roger Miller in Concert, Pershing Municipal Auditorium 11—Lincoln—"Red Desert", Nebraska Theater. Annual Nebraska Bankers Associa- tion Conference, Pershing Munici- pal Auditorium 13-14—Lincoln—Baseball, Nebraska vs. University of Colorado 13-14—Seward—"Kiss Me Kate", Con- cordia College 13-15, 17-22—Lincoln—"A Mid-Summer Night's Dream", Lincoln Commun- ity Playhouse 14—Lincoln—"The Adventures of Chico", Sheldon Art Gallery 15—Omaha—Omaha Symphony Youth Orchestra, Joslyn Art Museum 15—Lincoln—East Union Spring Choral Concert, Theory Recital, University of Nebraska May 15-June 8—Omaha—Omaha Public School Art Exhibit, Joslyn Museum May 15-September 15—Gothenburg Pony Express Station open May 17-June 27—Lincoln—University of Nebraska Student Art Show, Sheldon Art Galley 18—Lincoln—Pro-Wrestling, Pershing Municipal Auditorium 18—Seward—Student Recital, Concordia College 22—Auburn—Nemaha County Saddle Club Annual Horse Show 19-22—Omaha—Mid-America Council Boy Scout Exposition, Civic Audi- torium 20—Norfolk—State High School Class A Grass Greens Golf Tournament 20—Lincoln—State High School Class B Grass Greens Golf Tournament, Pioneers Park 20-21—Kearney—State High School Track Meet 20-21—Lincoln—State High School Tennis Tournament, University of Nebraska 21—Auburn—Nemaha County Farm, Home, and Sports Show 21-22—Lincoln—Capital City Horse and Pony Show 22—Lincoln—Film Series, Sheldon Art Gallery Choral Union Concert, University of Nebraska 23—Lincoln—State High School Class B Baseball Tournament, University of Nebraska 23-24—Omaha—State High School Class A Baseball Tournament, Omaha Municipal Stadium 25—Lincoln—Annual Meeting of Mem- bership, Lincoln Community Play- house 27—Lincoln—Pius X High School Com- mencement, Pershing Municipal Auditorium 27—Kearney—Kearney State College Commencement 28—Seward—Male Choir and Con- cordia Singers Concert, Concordia College 28—Omaha—Democratic Committee Banquet, Civic Auditorium 28—Thedford—High School Rodeo 29—Lincoln—Auto Racing, State Fair- grounds 29—Omaha—Baccalaureate, Creighton University 29—Lincoln—Commencement and Bac- calaureate, Nebraska Wesleyan University 29—Brownville—Spring Festival 30—Memorial Day 30—Bayard—Memorial Day Program -Valentine—High School Rodeo -Omaha—Creighton University Commencement, Omaha Civic Auditorium -Emmet—Whoopee Day -Cozad—Midwest Federation Track Championships, Haymaker Stadium 30-September 5—Kearney—Boy's Training School Dancers, Sundays and Labor Day May-September—Alliance—Stock Car Racing, Alliance Speedway No Date Set—Lincoln—All Sports Day, University of Nebraska 30- 30- 30- 30-

JACKS AND COTTONS

by Fred Nelson After half a day of rabbit tricks we are ready for anything. Anything but that bunny-to-blacktail switch 10 NEBRASKAland

DICK DOLPH WAS "shook". A very dead cottontail was suddenly a very much alive jackrabbit and the switch was almost too much for the startled hunter. He let the blacktail buy 50 yards before the autoloader barked. The big rabbit somersaulted and stayed put.

"I've either shot two rabbits or else I have a bad case of eye trouble", Dick mused, walking toward the still quivering jack.

"It looks like you got two. A cottontail and a blacktail. When you blistered the little bunny, the shot spooked a jack", replied Walter Smith.

Dick picked up the cottontail and went on to the bigger rabbit. "That's what happened. These darn rabbits can hide on a pool table." He looked at the grazed- over alfalfa field and shook his head. "I didn't see either one of these rabbits until they spooked."

Three of us were on a mid-February hunt for cottotails and jackrabbits around Exeter, Nebraska, and the day was turning into a real bell ringer. Dick is a member of the Nebraska Safety Patrol and Walt is a jeweler in town. Both are avid hunters and pull two or three bunny bounces each winter. I came from Pennsylvania where cottontail hunting is practically an institution so I didn't need a second invitation to join them. Dick was using a 12-gauge autoloader and Walt, a slide action. I stuck with my favorite 20-gauge.

"We would like to pick up about five cottontails apiece this morning and give the jacks a go this afternoon. A farmer friend of mine, Barney Moravec, has quite a few blacktails. He's invited us out to shoot a couple. Wants to try them out for dog food", Dick explained over early coffee as the boys clued me in on the day's schedule.

"Good", I answered. "I don't particularly want to shoot one but I would like to make a comparison between them and the ordinary cottontail. You know, speed, size, habitat differences, characteristics, things like that."

We hit the road about 9 a.m. It was a bright sunny morning but very cold so (Continued on page 49)

WATERS OF THE SALT-WAHOO

Big or little, these 11 lakes have common crop-bumper yield of fun by Don Eversoll

HERE WAS nothing new about the scene: man versus fish, except that six years ago it could not have happened where it did. The northern pike panicked as the relentless line drew him closer to shore. He threw his four pounds into a 180-degree turn, but it was too late. An unyielding rod checked his play and soon the spent fighter was drawn into the shallows and up the gently sloping bank. Few observers would guess that the little drama was staged on what until recently was a Nebraska cornfield. The fisherman had scored at Bluestem Reservoir, only a half hour's drive from Lincoln's busy streets.

A happy angler looked up from his toothy prize and peered across the 325 acres of water. It was hard to believe that in 1960 the lake was only a plan on a drawing board. A part of the newly created Salt-Wahoo Watershed District, Bluestem was completed in 1962.

A state law of 1960 authorized the project. Since then, new lakes have sprouted in a number of counties. All are in populous but water-hungry southeast Nebraska.

Co-operation among state and federal agencies is the keystone of the project. A joint effort of the Army Corps of Engineers, the Soil Conservation Service, and the Watershed District, the artificial lakes meet the triple needs of erosion control, flood protection, and water conservation as well as providing recreation. The watershed district furnishes right-of-way and is charged with maintenance. It chips in on the construction bill via a property levy within the district. Individual county soil and water conservation districts act as co-sponsors on some of the development.

Basically, the reservoirs are planned as shallow detention dams for flood control. But the Congressional act which provided for the project allows local interests to kick in the difference to finance construction for deeper impoundments which are also suitable for recreation. Much of that difference in cost came from Nebraska's Game Commission with funds from the parks and boating departments aiding. Thus sportsmen pick up some of the tab which is fair since they share many of the benefits provided by the impoundments. One of the new reservoirs, Holmes Park, is partially subsidized by the City of Lincoln which pays for bridge and utility alterations. Thus, the city has a new recreation area in its own backyard and nobody is complaining.

 

Bluestem, one of the first reservoirs completed under the project, is a prime example of the recreation bonus supplied by the watershed project. Located west of Sprague - Martell, picnic areas are in use, and dock facilities are available. Thirty feet deep at the dam, the reservoir tapers out to shallows along the edges. Its standing trees and submerged snags are a favorite spring hangout for bass. Walleyes now 12 to 14 inches will be hefty scrappers by this fall. During the last days of hard water fishing at the end of February, one fisherman fought a seven-pound northern pike while his buddy hacked at the ice to make the hole big enough to drag the fish through. The pair went home with 30 pounds of fish. Such trophies don't happen every day, but others are there for the catching.

Not exactly in the trophy class, bullheads are a big item at another new reservoir in the district, 315-acre Wagon Train Lake, located east of Hickman. The voracious, whiskered little fellows make up in appetite what they lack in size. When the action is fast, crowds of fishermen bring wives and children to enjoy the angling circus. Later, there is an opportunity to discuss the merits of the catch around the dinner table. Fresh fried bullheads are mighty good eating, especially when some sunfish and bluegills add variety.

Another whiskered gent, the catfish, is a common prowler of the Salt Creek drainage. Some real prizes have been taken throughout the drainage. A popular catfish hot spot is Stagecoach Lake, south of Hickman. This 170-acre reservoir was completed in 1963. At dusk, its marshy shallows are a good bet for catfish. Northern pike and bass also make the rounds, looking for a minnow dinner before retiring to deeper water.

Olive Creek, near Kramer, was built in 1963 and was initially stocked with fish in 1964. This impoundment is 145 acres of fishing dynamite for anglers bent on excitement. Bass, channel catfish, northern pike, yellow cats, walleye, and bluegill are all waiting for anglers at Olive Creek. But fishermen will get their exercise here since the area is undeveloped and can only be reached on foot.

Pawnee Lake is the largest of the present Salt-Wahoo chain with 740 surface acres. Bullheads serve up a special treat at this lake, north of Emerald and few fishermen come away disappointed. By midsummer bass and bluegill will be filling stringers as they mature into real battlers. Boat ramps are provided. Power boaters must obey special regulations on Salt-Wahoo lakes. These regulations are published in the Boating Guide available from the Game Commission.

Two more lakes are in the process of filling. Twin Lake, north of Interstate Highway 80, west of Lincoln, and Yankee Hill, south of the city, have both been stocked. Bass, bluegill, channel cat, northern pike, and walleye prospects are bright for next spring.

Also on the fishering horizon is Branched Oak Lake, a proposed 1,800-acre impoundment. Though it is not scheduled for construction until 1968, Branched Oak promises to be tops among the watershed's attractions.

Hunters are not slighted at the Salt-Wahoo lakes either. Most of them are closed to waterfowl gunning but open for quail, pheasants, rabbits, squirrels, and deer. Two special use areas, 25-acre Teal Lake near Kramer, and 40-acre Hedgefield, south of Hickman, serve up excellent waterfowl shooting. Not to be left out of the fishing picture, both are amply stocked with bass, bluegill, northern pike, walleye, and channel cat.

The Salt-Wahoo Watershed is just one step in Nebraska's crusade for top water-oriented recreation. A .sample of pleasures in the near future. THE END

LET'S TALK TURKEY

By Karl Menzel Senior Biologist Wild gobblers are hatched, not made. A comeback depends upon delicate balance of cover, food, and water

NEBRASKA'S WILD TURKEYS have too many friends. A comparatively new addition to the state's list of game birds, this magnificent sporting bird has captured the imaginations of hunters, land-owners, and the general public like no other specie. Everyone is extending him a hearty welcome and is anxious to see his kind increase. This is largely wishful thinking.

Correspondence and comments from all parts of the state show the public's desire for establishing turkeys throughout all of Nebraska. Unfortunately, this is not possible. Turkeys have definite habitat requirements and unless they are provided, introductions and transplants cannot be successful.

Early records show that wild turkeys occurred in Nebraska. They were widely distributed in the eastern part of the state and ranged westward along the major stream courses to about the vicinity of North Platte. Timber clearing and uncontrolled hunting resulted in the elimination of the last wild turkeys by about 1915. Nebraskans did not really appreciate the wild turkey until he was gone. With this realization came the desire to bring him back.

Numerous early attempts were made to re-establish wild turkeys by private groups and the Nebraska Game Commission. Without exception, these were pen-reared birds, which succumbed to environmental factors or remained in small numbers as glorified barnyard fowl. The reason for these failures is now apparent. Turkeys that are completely wild cannot be reared in captivity. They do not lose their wild characteristics in pens, and require constant attention which is costly and time consuming. To overcome this problem game breeders have crossed wild stock with domestic strains. Even though the resulting birds may look similiar to wild turkeys in outward appearances, they still contain a certain amount of domestic inheritance which makes it impossible for them to survive and produce successfully in the wild. During early stocking attempts in Nebraska when no wild birds were present to be contaminated by game farm turkeys, no great loss resulted from such introduction. The birds simply disappeared from the scene after a few short years. The only losses were time and money.

Once the cause of failure was realized the plan to re-establish wild turkeys was changed. In early 1959, through the co-operation of the South Dakota and Wyoming Game Departments, 28 wild-trapped Merriam's turkeys were released in the Pine Ridge of northwestern Nebraska. The results were spectacular. By 1962, over 3,000 turkeys were present in this area. Reasons for this success are obvious. The birds were truly wild, trapped in the wild, and released directly into the wild, where habitat requirements were right.

Turkeys must have an area with suitable cover, food, and water. Cover requirement includes large stands of open, mature timber. Except in winter, when movements of some flocks may be limited to the vicinity of a grain field or livestock feeding operation, turkeys do a lot of traveling. An individual flock may cover several miles in its daily search for food. Spring searching for suitable nesting sites is also quite extensive. Present indications, based on releases in Nebraska and in other states show that a minimum of 5,000 to 10,000 acres of MAY, 1966   continuous timber is necessary to provide a huntable flock of wild turkeys. Thus, suitable turkey ranges in Nebraska are limited to a few of the major stream courses and larger areas of natural timber. Smaller wooded areas like shelterbelts and tree groves are just not suitable for wild turkeys.

Besides the cover requirements, running water is a practical necessity. Parts of the Pine Ridge and the Niobrara drainage which provide suitable food and cover contain few if any turkeys because running water is lacking. On the Bessey Division of the Nebraska National Forest, commonly known as the Halsey Forest, special water developments were installed by the Forest Service to increase that area's suitability lor turkeys. This is the only area of planted timber in the state which is sufficiently extensive to establish and support wild turkevs.

Food for the birds is seldom a problem in Nebraska. Grain fields and livestock feeding operations in or adjacent to timber are heavily used by turkeys. Where agricultural food sources are not present, natural foods such as pine seed, acorns, and a variety of weed and grass seeds are sufficient. However, the largest numbers of turkeys are normally found close to the artificial food sources.

Other than being a waste of time and money, the earlier releases of game farm-reared turkeys were not detrimental. This would not be true today for Nebraska has a good population of truly wild birds. Wild turkeys cross readily with the tame or semitame birds, and the resulting offspring are largely incapable of survival in the wild. However, a few will survive and can contaminate the wild stock. Domestic and semiwild turkeys may be immunized to common poultry diseases but still be carriers. Their introduction to areas where wild birds are present can cause the spread of blackhead or fowl pox and effectively eliminate the pure wild population. Once introduced, wild turkeys must be left alone. Releases of game farm birds can only be harmful. In areas with no wild turkeys present, the amount of potential damage is more obscure. However, if the area is otherwise suitable, it will not be considered for a release of wild birds until wildlife technicians are sure all pen-raised birds have disappeared. Releases will not be considered in areas where free-ranging domestic birds are present. Private individuals are unable to buy wild turkeys so a property owner cannot stock his land even if he wants to.

The Merriam's turkey, which has been the most successful in Nebraska is a bird of the pine forests.

Technicians are attempting to establish Merriam's in areas of strictly deciduous timber, but the results of most of these releases are yet unknown. One plant, on Verdigre Creek in Knox County, was definitely successful although flock expansion was not as rapid as in the pine 18 NEBRASKAland areas. Other releases of Merriam's have been made in Cedar and Dixon counties, adjacent to the Missouri River, in Knox County on Howe Creek, in Washington County on the Elkhorn River, in Thayer County on the Little Blue River, and in Pawnee County. Their status is still doubtful. A limited number of additional releases will be continued until it is determined whether the other releases are successes or failures.

In 1961 and 1962, Rio Grande turkeys were obtained from Texas and were released in 25 sites in central and southwestern Nebraska. The majority of these plants were failures, undoubtedly due to deficiencies in habitat. A few were successful and are providing limited hunting in certain Management Areas.

Present prospects are not bright for any significant expansion of the wild turkey range in Nebraska. Additional plantings will be attempted, on a gradual basis, with priorities given to those areas which look best and where no game-farm turkeys are present to cloud the issue. Plantings will not be attempted in those areas which are obviously deficient in the essential requirements. Whether the range increases or not, the wild turkey has been restored to the Nebraska scene. Barring unforeseen catastrophes or changes in land use, he will continue to provide enjoyment to observers and hunters for years to come. THE END

20 NEBRASKAland

SECOND HAND BOATING

by Bill Vogt Buying a used craft is like eyeing a pretty girl. Appearances mean a lot. Here's what to look for

THE ALL-TOO-OFTEN gap between pocketbook and drooling desire can leave a water sport enthusiast boatless at the dock. A used boat and motor, selected with care, can be the solution to this unhappy dilemma. Purchase of a secondhand outboard, like the buying of a used car, carries a certain amount of risk. But, the prospective purchaser can stack the odds in his favor by having a good idea of what is or isn't a good buy.

Buying a used outboard is somewhat like choosing a wife, for external appearances are often significant. A secondhand motor need not be in perfect condition to be a bargain, provided the required repairs or adjustments are minor and inexpensive.

Basically, a boat motor is about the same as the engine in an automobile. A gasoline outboard is an internal combustion engine, and many of its parts are similar to those of a car. It has a piston or pistons and rings, an electrical system, a fuel system, gears, a drive shaft, and an exhaust system. All of these parts are subject to the same breakdowns as those of an automobile engine.

A good hard look at a used outboard as it sits will give some indication of its condition. All the power-producing parts ride on top. The underwater portion, or lower unit, is a gear housing which transmits power to the propeller through a drive shaft. A bent lower unit housing means erratic steering at low speeds. At higher rpm's maneuverability becomes increasingly difficult. A trail of oil on the housing indicates a leaking drive shaft seal while a chewed-up propeller means poor performance and excessive strain on the motor. If the prop is badly mutilated, it can mean that the motor has been subjected to strain over a long period.

Ideally, the prospective purchaser of a used motor should have it equipped with a test prop and run in a tank at varying speeds. A regular prop churning in a tank whips a hole in the water, and causes unnatural drag. If the engine has a shift transmission, put the clutch through its paces while the motor is running. Excessive vibration during the test can also be a sign of a weak mounting bracket. A cloud of fumes is a good sign that the carburetor is out of adjustment. Watch the water outlet to make sure the water pump is functioning properly, and is not clogged. If an experienced mechanic is drafted or hired to do the testing, he can make instrument checks of compression while the motor is running. If a tank is unavailable, pull the starter cord a few times. Resistance gives some idea of compression.

These simple tests can tell a lot about a motor, but to be even more sure, take a look at its innards. Remove the cowling and check the flywheel for excessive play. While you are at it, examine the starter cord for wear. Next, pull the spark plugs and check for fouling. Color is an important clue as to how the kicker is functioning. A chocolate-brown firing area on the plug indicates a normal fuel mixture, and that the engine does not run hot. Black desposits show that the motor has been burning too rich a fuel mixture, and light tan means a lean MAY, 1966 21   mixture, or that the motor runs hot. If the firing area is covered with oil, the engine may be equipped with too cold a plug. If you purchase the motor, it is well to ask the dealer what type of plug is recommended for that particular make and model of kicker. Reseat the plugs firmly, but not too tight. A loose fit can blow the plug from its threads. If the fit is to tight, a cylinder head can blow.

While the cowling is off, have the fly wheel removed and examine it for defects and have a look at the coils for burned spots. If the points are burned, check electrical leads for wear.

Next, the fuel system rates a once-over. An air leak in a fuel line will cause hot, spasmodic idling. The carburetor screen should be checked for gum or a sludge of varnish. Prolonged disuse can cause such residue. Remove the float bowl and check for clogging. All adjusting needles should be examined for wear. Replacing them is easy.

There is not always an opportunity for such a detailed check of a used motor, but the closer the examination the surer you are of getting what you want. At least, you can make a fairly accurate determination of what could be wrong and may need fixing to put the motor in A No. 1 shape. A quick visual check will usually tell what sort of treatment the engine has received. But if the seller says, "There it is, take it or leave it, as is," there's not much you can do, except weigh the chances.

Next comes a boat to match your motor. Here, even the most unmechanical person is on safer ground. One main point: do not get too much boat for too little motor, or vice versa. For a rough guide, a 1 1/2 to 5-horsepower engine will prove satisfactory for the lighter car top fishing boats. Five to 50-horsepower will push craft of up to 16 feet. A 10 to 100-horsepower kicker will serve for runabouts and bigger craft. The exact horsepower depends on size and type of craft, and the purpose for which it is to be used.

The most vulnerable point in a boat is the stern. A Fiberglas or wooden craft should be checked for cracks. A shaky transom means a poor investment. The steering assembly, if any, should be checked for looseness and 22 NEBRASKAland frayed cables. The overall interior of a boat usually speaks for itself. Upholstery, flooring, decking, oarlocks, and other hardware may need repair or replacing. The bottom of the stern is not the only point to check for structural weakness. Also check the bow for gouges, cracks and dents. Aluminum boats should be examined for loose rivets, and for severe dents which can cause the craft to steer poorly.

Dry rot is the enemy of all wooden boats. This insidious ailment is not easily discernible but it can be found by the discriminating purchaser. Probes with a pen knife, hull tapping, and patches of discoloration often reveal the presence of this malady. Of the three methods, hull tapping is the most reliable. If the wood gives off a dead "thunk", select another boat. Fortunately, dry rot is not a major problem in Nebraska but craft brought in from other areas may be infected.

A boat of the size and type suitable for its purpose will complement a motor of the proper horsepower. Once that combination is achieved, new or used, the combo will serve the Sunday sailor well until a bigger or better rig catches his eye. THE END

24 NEBRASKAland

the wandering winnebagoes

by Warren Spencer Bold breed finds home after 30 years of agony, exile

IT IS UP the road a ways from Omaha and it's too much like too many other Indian reservations but it is home for the Winnebagoes and they have earned the right to live there, the hard way. They earned it with more than 30 years of agony and exile, starving squaws, dying children, and the blood of many a brave. The price was paid a long time ago and memories of its frightful cost are growing dim for a century is too long to remember all the grim installments that came due. Besides, Nebraska has been the peaceful haven of the Winnebagoes for more than a (Continued on page 52)

COLOR SPECTRUM OF NEBRASKAland

The land's a canvas, a rainbow the hues for these classics

COLORFUL NEBRASKA is a great natural tapestry where all the vivid hues and sparkling brilliance of a summer rainbow have come to rest. From the delicate greens of Spring to the harsh blacks and whites of Winter, color spreads across this state.

As the months continue their inexorable march across the calendar, each season displays its favorite shades, but beauty knows no schedules in Nebraska. Here, nature is capricious. She dons and discards, accepts and rejects, until a combination strikes her fancy. Sometimes Her garb is a harmony of opposites, other times, a melody, of soft pastels but it is always pleasing.

On the next 12 pages, the spectrum that is NEBRASKAland is arrayed in all its eye-capturing greatness.

  28 NEBRASKAland

VIOLET IN Nebraska is at its revealing best in the evening. Shy and retiring, it spends its day among the lilac-hued flowers of field and meadow. But, come sundown, this peek-a-boo pastel grows bolder. It steals along the rivers and lingers among the trees. Like a lavendar lullabye, violet comes with the twilight and bids this busy land accept the peaceful drowsiness of the night.

MAY, 1966  

BLUE IS the pacesetter in Nebraska's parade of color. It dominates a sky of limitless horizons, it dwells on the vast unfenced prairies, and it splashes the space in between. This azure shade tints the grass of Nebraska's pasturelands and lends a fragment of itself for the ribbons of its prize-winning beeves.

Bold and abundant, blue paints the waters of streams and ponds, lakes and rivers with a lavish brush. Even the dark and restless Missouri River that guards Nebraska's eastern ramparts offers its backwaters and bayous for a canvas.

Blue is the perfect color, a sapphire perfection with facets enough to enhance the beauty of any setting. From jagged buttes and pinnacles of another age to the delicate loveliness of apple blossoms in the Spring.

A color of infinite energy and endless variety, blue is never idle. Even in repose it provides a sea where clouds of fleecy beauty sail.

30 NEBRASKAland MAY, 1966  

GREEN IS the banner of nature's great generosity toward Nebraska. In a state where all growing things have a deep and almost spiritual significance, this emerald hue is the living symbol of all that this agriculturally-oriented state deems good.

A restful, eye-pleasing color, green never loses its charm for the viewer, never becomes jaded or tired. It spreads its enchanting carpet over all the land and scarcely anything can escape its gentle shroud. Nothing is too big or too small for this lively shade. A moss-covered rock, a giant tree with a spreading canopy of leaves, a tiny, eager seedling, all are touched by its magic.

Normally associated with peaceful vistas and splendid solitudes, green is aggressive and rock-hard in its determination to clothe the earth. Even when Winter hurls its legions of white against the land, this king of colors fights back with armies of evergreen and bayonets of yucca.

32 MAY, 1966 33   NEBRASKAland

YELLOW IS the hue of harvest in Nebraska. It is the glint of golden wheat, ripening in the late-summer sun, the tint of drying corn — almost ready for the crib, and a burst of yellow flame on distant hill. Yellow is the first to herald the gentle approach of Autumn and the last to bid it a reluctant farewell. Discreet, yellow knows when to shout and when to whisper. Too loud and too much, yellow can be blatant and tiring but in Nebraska it attains its fullest glory as a blender, a mixer, a touch of spice in Nebraska's brilliant spectrum.

A tinter, a reflector, a cohort of green and red, this golden delight is at its ultimate in Nebraska when the haze of Indian Summer shimmers the land and the hint of fall sharpens the air.

MAY, 1966  

ORANGE SPARKS colorful NEBRASKAland into glowing warmth. This flame-colored shade twists and turns, spiraling into a multitude of gyrations. Orange leaps and dances in smoldering delight during Autumn's craze of blazing bonfires and flavor-bursting frankfurters. Round, fat pumpkins sun ripen on Nebraska vines, and steamy summer skies vibrate with burnt-orange tints.

Whether boisterous or subdued, this apricot hue is a color of mysterious grandeur. It cloaks one of Nebraska's most awe-inspiring spectacles—electrifying sunsets that dazzle even the most blase of viewers.

Be it billowy wisps or storm-tossed rain clouds that frame day's end, God's work of art is splendor.

RED IS MORE than a color in Nebraska. It is a symbol of the pulsating energies and surging I drives of a people who love life and know how to live its every glorious moment.

From the hard-hitting action of "Big Red" on the gridiron to cherry-coated Herefords in the lonely Sand Hills, Nebraska rallies behind this gay and enthusiastic shade.

A brash, devil-may-care color, red never forsakes the Nebraska scene. Indoors or out, this state displays its love for this fiery hue in a thousand different ways. From a man-made banner against the sky to the crimson flame of a winging bird in the trees, red splashes across this big and vibrant state with contagious abandon. Everyone is the richer for it. THE END

"JUST BUEFORD"

by Richard Cote In the trapshooting world, this Big Springs rancher is champion of champions

THE PLACE: Harold's Club, Reno, Nevada. Time: The Golden West Grand American Trapshoot, sometime between May 10 and 15, 1966. Scene: A short, stocky NEBRASKAland farmer-rancher squints along the barrel of a 12-gauge slide-action shotgun. A whirling disc speeds out, a quick, smooth trigger pull, a pow, and a clay pigeon disintegrates in mid-air.

The man: Bueford Bailey, one of the nation's top trapshooting champions. Behind him is a lifetime average for 16-yard trapshooting of .9844. That means that out of 42,450 targets, soaring out of the traps at 16 yards he pulverized 41,792. All in all, Bueford has smashed about 80,000 registered clays at various ranges.

When he finally steps back from the firing line, you can make out nine overlapping crests on the back of his shooting jacket, each one of them marking a successive year that he has been named to the All-American Trap-shooting Team. The 1965 crest has a small "c", indicating Bueford is the captain. Sometimes he wears his medals—about two dozen of them—on the front of his jacket, "but only when it's cold".

Removing his shooting glasses and white golfer's hat, Bueford shows a good head of brown hair with very little gray, and a ruddy complexion. The most noticeable thing about him is his quick, relaxing laugh and the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiles. Physically, Bueford's 5-foot, 8-inch frame hits the scales at 175 pounds. Biceps ripple under his shirt sleeves, the result of farming and not shooting.

Bueford and his brother Wayne own and operate some 22,000 acres of farm and ranch lands at Big Springs and North Platte. They also have holdings in South Dakota. About 8,000 acres is kept for wheat, the rest is used to run 1,000 head of non-purebred Herfords. Both brothers live within seeing distance of their father's farm near Big Springs, and commute to the ranches in their own plane.

At home, Bueford is surrounded by mementoes of his shooting career. Some 600 trophies, silver plate, and a television set line 84 feet of shelves in a comfortable 28 by 32-foot room he built on a year ago. The room is almost as big as the rest of the house. And out in the barn is an automobile that he won in 1956.

Mrs. Bailey, or "Myrt", is a short, quiet woman who helps hubby out by polishing all the silver. With the help of neighbors, the whole job takes about a week. Also at home is Lonna, 17, a senior in high school, who just misses the five-foot mark in her stocking feet.

"Bueford told her she could shoot when she got big enough," Myrt recalls, and then laughlingly adds, "she never got big enough."

Bueford's son, Clinton, now at North Platte Junior College, got big enough, however, to give his Dad a few lickings in friendly but earnest 12-gauge competition. Until he "retired" from shotgun shells in favor of books, Clinton continued the family tradition by being named to the All-American Junior Squad three times. Father and son come from a long line of trapshooters. Bueford's father, Glen, uncles George and Ralph Zimmerman, and brother Wayne have shot trap for years.

Captain of the 1965 All-American team displays loot from single shoot, Quick smile is his trademark

Bueford's first visit to the greatest of all trapshooting competitions, the Grand American, at Vandalia, Ohio, came in 1938 when he was 13 years old. But it was almost 80,000 registered targets later before he finally wrested the huge sterling silver punch bowl and six mugs from 1,200 other eager competitors in 1964.

"One of the keys to his success is his ability to shoot under pressure," Lincoln Journal writer Terry Anderson once said of Bueford. That 1964 clay target championship is one example of that ability. Bueford had tied for the title with two other shooters with 200 straight. He then went on to powder another 75 rocks to clinch the $800 trophy.

"It was one of the greatest thrills I've ever had in trapshooting," Bueford says. After a heart-stopping tie, the prize had finally come home.

By the end of 1965, the Big Springs sharpshooter could lay claim to:

—breaking 100 straight in a 100-bird shoot on 158 different occasions;

—blasting 200 targets in a 200-bird program on 30 different occasions;

—smashing 178 straight doubles, 356 birds; and powdering 1,033 straight single targets without a miss, a feat bettered by possibly three other shooters in the world. Those 80,000 12-gauge shells he's shot would total about 250 pounds of gunpowder and a whopping 2% tons of shot. Bueford follows the standard load of 3 drams of powder and l 1/2 ounces of No. 7% shot. He spends several hundred hours each year reloading shells, thus saving about half the cost of store-bought fodder. Even so, trapshooting can be expensive. Bueford figures he's "probably won better than $50,000 and spent a little more than that."

Shooters pay a minimal target and trophy fee and then can, in addition, bet against each other in an intricate system called "options". For example, in a 25-bird shoot all gunners with 25 straight will share a percent- age of the option purse, those with 24 straight a smaller percentage, those with 23 a still smaller percentage, and on down the scores.

The option system is further complicated in that only amateurs can shoot for the money. Professionals, those hired by or representing manufacturers or firms involved in trapshooting equipment and supplies, can also shoot, but only for the fun of it.

"Since the betting system is optional, the Sunday shooter—someone who just wants to shoot for fun—can do so by paying just the target fee," Bueford explains. The NEBRASKAland trap ace relaxes from competitive shooting by hunting. Deer, duck, goose, pheasant, a few grouse and quail are his targets. But his favorite is the pheasant.

"I still think he's the best game bird there is," he exclaims. "Boy, he's a sly old bird."

Out on the firing range, Bueford relaxes, still wearing his colorful shooting jacket. On its right shoulder area is a half-inch thick pad. "I'm real tough as long as I've got that pad," he grins.

"There's a good young shooter coming up now, Jim Lafleur of St. Paul, Nebraska. Boy, he shoots an old Model 12 without a rubber recoil pad, and he'll shoot it wearing just a light sports shirt. I've seen him just bleeding, blood just coming out (Continued on page 54)

MARTHA

Blizzard of '88 meant cow in parlor, white death at door for family by Honor C. Batson

IT WAS THE winter of 1888 and Martha Wilson was alone with her five children in the soddy on their homestead in the Sand Hills near Ballagh, Nebraska, when the big feathery flakes started coming down. Spencer, her husband, and her brother Chet, were bringing supplies in the wagon from Grand Island, 130 miles south.

Afraid of a storm, Martha sent 9-year old Ancil, the older of her two sons, to fetch Old Bossie to the well near the house for a drink before milking.

Before Ancil and Bossie reached the well, the gusts of wind strengthened into a steady gale. Fine snow walled the sod barn and corral from sight and even the outlines of the sod house, only a few feet away, vanished before the cow finished drinking.

Snow pellets bit and stung Ancil's face. Tears of fright froze on his cheeks as he turned his back to the wind and snuggled close to Old Bossie's warm side. Scared when the swirling white blanked out his familiar world, he thought, "It's probably one of those real Nebraska blizzards Pa's told about but I wish he was here. I-I don't know what to do."

Old Bossie swung her head from side to side, snorting and pulling on her lead rope, trying to turn tail to the wind to get her breath and keep her nose and eyelashes free of frost.

Ancil yelled, "Ma! Ma, help. Bossie's about to get away. I can't hold her much longer. H-e-elp!" Martha dropped her dishrag, grabbed the shawl from the nail by the door, and ran out. Together they could hardly hold the cow, let alone see the barn. Martha shouted above the wind. "I guess we'll have to tie her to the doorknob, Ancil, to keep her handy."

The cow was nervous and kept kicking against the door, mooing and jerking at the knob. Inside the house, Ray, next to the youngest, begged, half crying, "Can't we bring her in, Ma? Bossie's scared, and I am too. We got to have milk, Ma. I'm hung-r-ry."

"I think we better, Ma," Ancil added, trying to act the man of the house.

The girls, Effie, Winnie, and Rose thought a minute, then chimed in, "Yes, Ma! Please. Poor Old Bossie might freeze."

"No, hush! That is going too far," Martha answered. She scraped a peekhole in the frosty window but the outside of the glass was coated with a white sheet of snow. The family lighted the coal oil lamp and its yellow rays brightened the darkened room. But, the light could NEBRASKAland not lift their worry about the diminishing fuel supply of dried chips and hay twists. It was getting colder in the house. Effie, 11, watched her mother, trying to imitate her courage. Finally, she saw Martha's lips tighten as she got out of her chair. The blizzard was worsening instead of easing off. Snow was piling around the house and was nearly to the eaves by now.

"All right, you boys can bring Old Bossie in until we milk her," Martha said. "We need milk and we might want to make butter later."

Effie was still reluctant. "Well, if Ma thinks so, I guess it's all right."

"What a house! They kept the cow in the parlor, kept the cow in the parlor," Winnie, 7, and Rose, 4, sang, joining hands and dancing around.

Bossie didn't like being tied up inside the house any better than being tied outside. Though the house was warmer than the driven snow, she was as nervous as a restless doggie. She wouldn't quiet down in the strange surroundings, and finally broke loose. Butting, whirling, and threshing, the bellowing cow rushed headlong into the storm when they opened the door.

The storm lasted three days. Bit by bit the boys, at Martha's direction, chopped up bed slats and pieces of furniture to feed the fire. They piled on all the clothes they had to keep warm in the almost tomb-like soddy

Coal oil ran out and only a tiny glow from the opened stove lids lighted the little room. Her children huddled close as Martha told long stories about her girlhood, sang songs, and recited poems to keep up their spirits, and hers. The burned oil smell, stale air, darkness, and'fear, left them on the verge of panic.

"Now children," Martha said occasionally, "God loves and takes care of us all. Let's pray for Him to bring us safely through this, and to take care of your Pa and Uncle Chet."

They prayed silently a few minutes, then went back to discussing the storm. They speculated on the safety of Uncle Link and Aunt Minta, who had gone to Burwell to prove up on their claim, and then went back to memorizing more poems and songs.

On the fourth morning, they awoke to bright, almost blinding light.

The sun was shining!

The children bounced to the door and stood on the one remaining chair to look at the top of the drift piled there. Through the crack they could see endless white hills of snow glaring to the (Continued on page 53)

MASTER ANGLER

State award keeps memory fresh of big one that didn't get away

CHILLY WINDS whipped the water, but Paul Abegglen, Sr., didn't notice. He had his hands full of lunging, struggling bass. He knew it was a big one. The battle was joined, and Paul fought to gain an advantage, but the monster on the other end of the line wouldn't give an inch.

Back and forth, the line seesawed with each testing the other. Minutes seemed to stretch into eons as Paul edged his prize ever closer to shore. Finally, after 20 long minutes, he beached the lunker. Just as he figured, a beauty of a largemouth bass.

Paul carefully creeled his catch and went back to his casting. He took four fish in all that October morning, but released all of them but the gigantic bass.

When he showed the beauty off to some friends, they urged him to get it weighed. It took almost all day for them to prevail, but six hours later, the bass was placed on a scale. It checked in at a hefty 10 pounds, 11 ounces. The largemouth then made a trip to the taxidermist.

For several months friends kept at Paul. "Is it a record?"

Finally, he checked with the Game Commission to find out. It was a record all right. The largemouth, taken from a sand pit near his home, dethroned a record held by Bill Latta of Lincoln for six years. It easily toppled Latta's 9-pound, 14-ouncer, and had Paul put it on a scale sooner the bass would probably have topped 11 pounds.

But, a state record wasn't the only prize awaiting Abegglen. When the Game Commission learned of his trophy, he was awarded a new Master Angler Award. It was the first such citation given under a program recently initiated by the Commission.

Too often, the anglers are greeted with raised eyebrows and an unbelieving "if you say so" when enthusiastically describing that catch of catches, the Commission figured. So they came up with a backup to the brag. The handsome certificates will be proof-positive of the big one that didn't get away. However, the fish doesn't have to be a record to qualify, just a hefty handful.

Resident and nonresident anglers are eligible for the awards if their catch meets certain size minimums and are taken in accordance with a few simple rules.

To qualify, a fish must be taken with rod and line from Nebraska waters, and be hooked, played, and landed by the applicant for the citation. It must be weighed on a state-certified scale and measured by a Game Commission official or a hunting and fishing license vendor. The owner or employee of the business establishment whose scale is used must sign the application.

There are no fees of any kind—except that the angler must have a valid fishing permit. Application forms and rules are available from permit vendors, Game Commission headquarters at the State Capitol in Lincoln, or from Commission district offices at Alliance, Bassett, Lincoln, Norfolk, and North Platte.

To get the program rolling, the Commission has already issued citations to current state record holders. More than willing to give a few tips on angling, Abegglen urges fishermen to learn the ways of their prey and their haunts if they want to win a citation.

"Bass fishing is my favorite," Abegglen avows, but he also favors the scrappy bluegill. "For their size, the bluegill is the fastest, strongest fish that swims and will give you the best fight," Paul claims.

"Fishing is work," he points out, "but it's fun work." Master Anglers need not top Abegglen or any other record holder to cop an award. Minimum weights to qualify include: largemouth bass, 5 pounds;: smallmouth bass, 3; rock bass, 1; bluegill, 1; crappie, 2; channel catfish, 12; nathead catfish, 25; blue catfish, 50; northern pike, 10; drum, 5; perch, 1; bullhead, 2; sturgeon, 4; white bass, 3; walleye, 8; sauger, 4; carp, 15; chain pickerel, 3; Sacramento, 1; goldeye, H/2; buffalo, 20; sucker, 2; rainbow trout, 5; brown trout, 5; and brook trout, 1.

In addition to Abegglen, awards have already gone to 20 other record-holders. The champs run the gamut from Nate Crockett of Lincoln, for his 1-pound 4-ounce rock bass to Orville Sudbeck of Hartington for his 76-pound blue catfish. There are a lot of champs in between, but records are made to be broken and in Nebraska's teeming waters, fishing fame is a fleeting thing.

So paw through that tackle box, warm up that rod, and get those candidates for awards coming up. Unfortunately, the citation will not back the boast about "the one that got away", but it will recall fond memories of the one that sizzled in the frying pan or adorns the mantle. THE END

LEAD-HEADED FISH GETTERS

Start making mold-your-own lures and angling woes will melt away. Here's how

IN THAT endless drag between ice out and fair-weather fishing, a few old tire weights can push time into passing gear for the dedicated angler. A pocket full of these service station castoffs is enough raw material to turn out an array of brightly-colored jigs that will rekindle the fishing fever and help pass the time as well as aid the pocketbooks.

The lead-headed fish getters aren't sure fire, but there are times when they serve up a big menu of seafood while other lures draw a blank. Basically, a jig is some nylon hair tied to a hunk of lead, molded around a cockeyed hook. These potent lures are easy to make. A few evenings spent producing them will pay off when fishing resumes again in earnest.

Tooling up for the project is a simple affair. It may involve a little skulduggery or wifely consent if the kitchen stove is to be used to melt the lead. A camper's gasoline burner also serves. A ladle, a mold, some jig hooks, model airplane dope, an assortment of nylon hair, and feathers will put the jig maker in business. All he needs to complete the outfit is some thread and a fly-tying vise.

Mail order outlets and sporting goods stores carry all the makings but the lead. A friendly filling station attendant is usually good for a batch of old tire weights, though any scrap lead will do. Molds come in a variety of sizes and body styles.

Be sure to get hooks made especially for jigs. They are easy to identify for the point is not offset, and the eye droops forward.

Lay out each component in a specific place so the job proceeds at an orderly pace. Work moves faster if you do it on an assembly line basis, going through the same steps with a number of jigs at once.

Fit a hook into its slot in the mold. Most molds have several cavities to accommodate a number of hooks. Clip the mold shut with the wire provided.

Put a couple of weights in a ladle and hold it over a hot flame. In a few minutes the lead will dissolve into a shiny pool of molten metal with a slag of dirt particles and tire clamps. Skim this residue off.

Hot lead has a tendency to splatter, so use care while pouring it into the form. Allow a few seconds for hardening, then open the mold. Touch only the handles. Neatled inside you'll find the like-new silver body molded neatly around the hook. Use a knife to pare away any rough spots which might cut the thread.

After it is shaved smooth, the jig is ready to paint. An artist's brush and model airplane dope will do the job nicely. Hang the lure over a wire coat hanger or taut string to dry.

A quicker, but somewhat wasteful method of painting, is to dip the jig into a jar of dope. A longer-lasting finish can be obtained by painting the lead with enamel and then baking it in an oven. A model airplane dope job will need retouching sooner. The perfectionist can dip a matchstick in black paint for dotting eyes on the jig.

When the finish is dry, clamp the hook securely in a fly-tying vise. Trim a small bunch of nylon hair flush and hold it over the neck of the lead head. Wrap it evenly in place with thread. A hand-held fly-tyer's bobbin will help here, but an even tension can be maintained between thumb and forefinger for an equally good job.

Now is a good time to look for bald spots and fill them in with additional tufts. Half-hitch the thread several times and coat the wrap with clear fingernail polish. This completes a lure worthy of any tackle shop and represents a sizable savings, too. Variations in color and tail material are endless for feathers or peacock herl may be substituted for the nylon hair. Strands of tinsel make bright additions. Metallic flecks, available from fly-tying supply houses, lend a dash of sparkle.

There is some debate whether color is as important as the method in jig fishing. When deep-water tactics are called for, a jig, dancing along the bottom appeals to the most choosy fish. Sauger and even an occasional channel catfish will inhale the little morsel. Small size jigs are real tempters for crappies and white bass.

Leave a few jigs tailless for a top bass-getter. Add a plastic worm or pork rind strip to give a fluttering, bottom-bouncing ride that largemouths find hard to resist. An up-and-down movement of the rod tip imparts the desired action. Often, long sweeps prove even more effective. Since the lure rides hook point up, it is practically snag proof. A jig walked among the rocks of a jetty or the face of a dam will bring fish on the run, or rather the swim.

The smaller lures are ideal for spinning rod use. Heavier sizes are suitable for casting with a level wind reel. Some old-timers ignore reels and work the jig with a long cane pole and a short line. This gives close control of the action, which can be varied from long, slow* glides to a hesitation waltz. An added refinement is a telescoping Fiberglas rod.

Jigs are year-round propositions. They have their place in the shallows during the fast-action days of spring, or fished deep during the hot weeks of August. Hard water fishermen value them for running up impressive scores of perch and other gamesters. Reserve a few long evenings to make a batch of jigs. Before you know it the fish will be biting and you'll have an opportunity to see how good a jig maker you are. If the fish buy them, you're in business. THE END

AVOCET

By George Nason Associate Biologist NOTES ON NEBRASKA FAUNA... Elegantly dressed from top to toe, this shore bird stands tall over shallow ponds in the western Sand Hills. He protects his own by dive bombing those who wish him ill

BEAU BRUMMEL of the shore bird set is without doubt the avocet. A common summer resident in Nebraska's marshes and wet meadows, Recur- virostra Americana is the only species of avocet found in North America.

This Dapper Dan is a fairly large shore bird, standing nearly 18 inches tall. He is identified by his long legs and neck and contrasting black and white plumage. In summer, an adult has a pinkish-tan head and neck, black shoulders, and wings. Some of the secondaries and coverts are white. The tail is pearly gray, the bill black, the legs dull blue, and the iris of the eye red or brown. Winter attire is the same except for the head and neck plumage which changes to pearly gray.

His feet differ from those of most wading birds. The front three toes are webbed, permitting him to swim with ease.

An avocet gets his name from his peculiar bill. Nearly straight in the young, the bill gradually recurves upward as the bird matures. It is very efficient for obtaining the bird's aquatic diet.

Diving beetles, Bill-bugs, snails, and marine worms make up a large part of an avocet's diet. Aquatic foods are obtained by inserting the recurved bill beneath the water until the tip touches the bottom. Then the bird wades forward, swinging his bill from side to side, garnering food from the muddied water. Terrestrial insects like grasshoppers are also taken upon occasion.

Three or four eggs are laid in a crude shallow nest. They are olive or buff in color with many dark brown or chocolate colored spots. The nest is generally located on a dry mudflat or similar site and is never far from a marsh, shallow lake, or pothole.

Intruders to the nesting area of the avocet are dealt with in a convincing manner. Both sexes defend the nest. Cries of alarm arouse others who gather and give support. Rising to a height of 50 to 75 feet, the bird turns and dive bombs the intruder, swooping within inches of the enemy. A repeated high pitched "kleek", "kleek", "kleek" accompanies the attack.

Young avocets are precocial, able to run and escape danger soon after hatching. The downy fuzz of the newly hatched serves as excellent camouflage but it is replaced by feathers within a relatively short period.

WINTER PLUMAGE

Although the avocet does not winter in Nebraska he returns to nest each spring. Once a probable summer resident over all of Nebraska wetlands, the bird's primary range has been reduced by civilization to the Sand Hills where marshes and wet meadows provide required habitat.

Fine eating, the avocet was once a prime target for the market hunters. He now enjoys year-round protection, as well he should, for the avocet adds more than his share to the esthetic value of Nebraska's wildlife. Look for him in the shallow, alkaline ponds of the western Sand Hills. THE END

JACKS and COTTONS

(continued jrom page 11)

Dick and Walt suggested we try a patch of timber, figuring the bunnies were sheltered up against the cold.

"This ought to be pretty good for cottontails. There are milo fields on each side and a grubbed out hedgerow be- tween them. We will hit the brushpiles if the woods doesn't pan out", Walt explained.

Dick brought his beagle pup, Pumpkin, along to share the fun. "He's too young to trail but he's quite a router", the Safety Patrolman said, slipping the leash on the eager dog.

The pup jumped the ditch and plunged into a tangle of wild grapes and underbrush. A bunny bailed out and rocketed away.

"Maybe we had better load up and get down to business", Walt commented, staring after the departed cottontail.

We spread out and combed the wood-lot on its long axis, hoping to drive the rabbits toward the clearing on the end. Pumpkin was excitement on four legs as he explored every windfall and clump.

"That pup doesn't know what he's looking for but he's sure bent on finding it", Walt laughed, as the dog sniffed around a decayed log.

A cottontail broke to our left and hot-footed toward the milo on the west edge of the woodlot. Dick waited him out and leveled off. There was a small explosion of leaves and dirt behind the fleeing hopper but he kept on going.

"You led behind him", Walt chided. "I was right on him, too, but he didn't know it", Dick replied, stuffing another hull into his 12.

We spooked several rabbits across the clearing and into the milo but we couldn't buy a shot. Dick proposed that we swing through the milo and come back along the hedgerow. Although we knew there were bunnies in the cropland we didn't find them. We all were almost back to the woods when Walt MAY, 1966 49   jarred one out of a fringe of goldenrod. The rabbit plunged into a thicket and plowed on through as Dick pinched toward him. Surprised, the animal reversed and came back. Walt's quick shot was just in time.

"Sometimes I think the instinct to circle is stronger than the instinct for survival in these little fellows", Walt commented. ''That rabbit had it made if he had kept straight."

Encouraged, we gave the timber another pass but it wasn't profitable so went back to the car and headed for another spot.

The new area looked rabbity. A sunken pocket of about 10 acres, it was laced by an unhurried creek which coiled itself around some sizeable cottonwoods and spread out in the bottom to form little ponds. A perimeter of gentle knolls ringed the pocket and sloped up to a sizeable milo field on the tableland above. A line of stunted willows marked the creek, and patches of sumac dotted the little slopes. Reeds and wild grasses carpeted the more open areas.

Walt elected to try the creek while Dick took the higher ground. I split the difference and tagged along between them. We hadn't walked 30 yards before Dick spotted a crouching rabbit. He beckoned and I eased toward him, watching for the break. I couldn't see the rabbit but at Dick's nod, I shuffled my feet and the bunny exploded from his form. The Safety Patrolman snapped off two quick shots without drawing a hair.

"I got the misses today", he exclaimed. A shot from the creek interrupted him and a few seconds later, we heard Walt's exulant, "Got him!"

"I was watching after you shot and I saw one cutting across the ice of that little pond," Walt said when we joined him. It was a nice open shot but the retrieve may be a little sticky. I don't trust that ice; there has been to much thawing and freezing lately."

The jeweler inched across the ice, scooped up the bunny, andcrow-hopped back to the shore. Pumpkin came up, took several sniffs of the kill, and took off. We followed along in the pup's general direction, probing the driftwood and high-water debris of the creek. Dick was forcing his way through a tangle of willows when a cottontail spurted out and dodged through the trees. Somehow, the patrolman found gun room and rolled the rabbit with a fine head shot.

"Held high on that one", he grinned. My turn came when the pocket pinched down to a narrow draw. I was watching my footing when the bunny made his play. It was a routine opportunity and I ended the hopper's travels with a load of No. 6's.

We saw quite a few rabbits but the cover was mighty thick and our shooting was skimpy until Walt doped out a new campaign. He had noticed that most of the rabbits scurried into the surrounding milo so he suggested we drive the field.

It was a good move for we hit the jackpot. When it was over, Dick had 50 NEBRASKAland added three and Walt, two, to their totals. I had lucked out with four. All of us had missed our quota, too.

I'm a little afraid to tally rabbits against shells, but I think I am operating at a loss", Dick remarked as we assembled at the car. "Walt and I need a cottontail apiece but we'll get them this afternoon. Let's eat."

Driving back to Exeter, Walt summed up the hunt. "That was really an artificial situation. We spooked most of those rabbits out of the bottom and forced them up into the milo with our milling around. Pumpkin helped too. When we hit the milo and kept moving the rabbits toward the road, it was bound to concentrate them into a relatively small area. We got most of our shooting in the last 100 yards of that milo. Your dog is mighty tired, maybe we had better leave him home this afternoon."

After lunch, we drove out to Barney's place and got the scoop on the blacktails. "They are usually in the milo around this time of day but you can't bank on it. I drove the tractor out on the alfalfa the other day and spooked four or five", the farmer said.

We walked down a lane, crossed the fence, and started across an alfalfa field toward a "40" of milo. From force of habit we spread out and hadn't made a hundred yards when Dick scored his surprising double.

The blacktail changed our plans. Instead of trying the milo, we decided to hunt the alfalfa, the long ways, and see what developed. We must have hit a convention of blacktails, for suddenly they were everywhere. I counted five in sight at one time but they were well out of range as they spooked out ahead of us. Most of them went straight down the field to the end before they right angled into the heavier cover of the milo. One big fellow must have run for half a mile before he changed direction and ducked into some high weeds.

"Jacks, straight-line runners?" I inquired.

"Yes and no", Walt replied. "They dodge some and actually they have the same circling characteristic of a cottontail but they make a lot longer loop and run a lot faster. They can give a dog fits when they want to."

"A jack is pretty speedy. When he's wound up, he can take 20 feet at a jump and run for a long ways", Dick added. "It seems to me they prefer more open country than the little bunnies."

"A lot of first-time hunters miss jacks. They are big and their speed is deceptive. You have to lead them just like any other moving target", Walt continued. "They aren't very hard to kill but you've got to hit them. Sometimes, it is pretty hard to get in shotgun range of them."

A few minutes later we were in the cut-over milo, looking for the blacktails that had left the meadow. Walt found the action right away and flipped his blacktail with an easy 25-yard shot as the big rabbit fled down a row.

"I don't think this one came out of the alfalfa, he wasn't spooky enough. I almost stepped on him before he took off", the jeweler said. "Now if I can get another cottontail, this hunt is over."

A thicket of low brush and weeds at the end of the milo looked promising so we headed toward it, half expecting to jump a cottontail before we reached it but we didn't. Walt picked a good spot as Dick and I stepped into the thicket. Right on cue a rabbit bounced out and the slide action spoke its piece for tally No. 5 and the end of the hunt.

I wanted to examine the jacks so I volunteered to carry them back to the farm yard. It wasn't long before I regretted my offer. The two big blacktails were surprisingly heavy after handling the lighter cottontails.

Back at Barney's I made some rough comparisons between the blacktails and the cottontails. From stretched out hindlegs to black-tipped ears, the biggest jack was almost twice as long as the biggest "little" bunny of the day. I was surprised at the length and width of their hind feet and their overall "bigness .

"The left hind foot of the rabbit is supposed to be lucky", I commented, reaching for my jackknife.

"I don't think I'll buy that", Walt grinned. "That, bunny had one and look what happened to him." THE END

MAY, 1966 51  

wandering winnebagoes

(continued from page 25)

hundred years and it's easier to recall the good days than the bad.

The Indians made the first payment back in 1825 with the Treaty of Prairie du Chien when greedy whites conned them into ceding away most of their ancestral lands in the Green Bay region of Wisconsin. In turn they were to have a reservation in Iowa. Their ancient home was a good land and the Winnebagoes treated it well. It was rich in game and fish and fertile enough to raise good crops of corn and potatoes for the Indians were accomplished farmers.

What lands the treaty did not take in 1825, another agreement in 1832 did and by 1840, the scheduled date for the final move to Iowa, the Winnebagoes were practically landless in Wisconsin.

Land hunger was the main reason behind the whites' determination to oust the tribe but the settlers could, if they thought about it long enough, come up with an excuse for possession.

The Winnebagoes weren't exactly 100 per cent loyal Americans by the standards of the day. They had allied themselves with the French in the early 1700's and had followed the fleur de lis in 1760 when the French and English clashed for control of the "New World". After the British victory, the Winnebagoes had straddled the fence for awhile before throwing in with the English. It was a lasting alliance.

When the American Revolution flared, the Winnebagoes were staunch friends of the redcoats and that didn't set to well with the colonists. To make matters worse, the Winnebagoes gave their British brothers a hand during the War of 1812 and figured in two decisive victories over the Americans. The ultimate defeat of the Britsh in this war severed the Winnebagoe-English ties but the Indians never did cotton closely to the Yankees, though they lived in harmony with the white settlers around them.

Smallpox helped to weaken the Indians' resistance to the white pressure. Three times, between 1825 and 1840, the Red Death swept through the tribe. One epidemic in 1836 killed more than a fourth of them. Even so, some of the Winnebagoes fought the move to Iowa 52 NEBRASKAland but the army came in and exodus was carried out under the muzzles of the troopers' muskets.

This new reservation was no good in the Winnebagoes' estimation. The soil was fertile enough but these forest people missed the streams and trees of their greener land. Great hunters and fishermen, they found little of either in Iowa. By 1846, the tribe was eager to find a new home so another treaty was drawn up. For once, the Indians didn't do to badly. They were granted 800,000 acres, north of St. Peter, in Minnesota.

Settlers in the area were not too happy with their new neighbors. Indian uprisings in the past had put all redmen under a cloud of hate but in time some of this animosity faded. The Winnebagoes turned to farming and many of them exchanged the traditional teepees for wooden houses. It was a bit of a shock to the whites when gamblers moved in on the tribe, looking for easy marks. The Winnebagoes proved far more adept with the pasteboards and dice than the tinhorns.

Real trouble came in 1862 when the neighboring Sioux went on the rampage. Buildings were put to the torch, stock stolen, and homesteaders murdered in this brief but merciless lash out against the whites. The Winnebagoes took no part in the bloodletting but they became the prime targets for white retaliation. Any Winnebago found away from the reservation was unceremoniously shot by the enraged settlers.

Hoping to stem the reprisals, several Winnebago braves caught and killed three Sioux warriors as a token of good faith but the white men were not appeased. When the Sioux were driven back to their reservation, the settlers took the "Indian" problem to Washington. Letters poured into the lawmakers demanding the (continued on page 58)

MARTHA

(continued from page 41)

horizons. "There's not a sign of the barn or Old Bossie, just snow," Effie murmered. The other children overheard, nodded, and stared in awe. Suddenly, Ray began to jump up and down. "I see something dark moving! Way over there. See!"

Ancil and Effie were on the chair now, hanging on to each other to stay up, shouting, "It's Pa!"

Martha left the milk pudding she'd been stirring and scattered the children as she sprang to the peekhole. She prayed as she watched the figure coming closer, "Oh, Blessed Lord, let him be safe. Make it be Spence. We need him so."

Tears streaming, she sobbed, "It's your Pa, children. Everyone of you kneel down and thank God for this day."

MAY, 1966 53

When they rose, Effie found a small peekhole in the window and stood watching, her teeth chattering, as her   father plunged toward them, floundering and falling through the big drifts, skirting and plowing through the smaller ones. Then they were all working at the door, pushing, shouting, and laughing, but it would not open.

Furiously, Spencer Wilson scooped at the snow with his hands when he reached the doorway, trying to make a crack big enough for the boys to crawl through. Soon, the three were scooping, laughing, and crying at once.

Martha's tears of relief mingled with those of her husband's, as wet and exhausted, he clasped her in his arms. The children galloped around, laughing, shouting, and occasionally stopping to hug them and each other.

At last Spencer spoke. "We found Old Bossie frozen stiff about three miles from here. Without her and knowing by this time that your fuel supply would be low, Chet decided he had better go back to Minta's for some fuel and bring what he could of the food supplies. The team refused to go any further, so I came on. We'll go back after the wagon and the oxen, if they are still alive, when we can."

He hugged each child and said, "You've done right well. I'm proud of you. You will be telling your children about this storm." They did. " THE END

OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland proudly presents the stories of its readers themselves. Here is the opportunity so many have requested—a chance to teft their own outdoor tales. Hunting trips, the "big fish that get away", unforgettable characters, oudoor impressions—all nave a place here. If you have a story to tell, Jot it down and send it to Editor, OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland, State Capitol, Lincoln 68509. Send photographs, too, if any are available.

JUST BUEFORD

(continued from page 39)

of his shoulder. He hadn't ought to do that; it's liable to give him flinches," Bueford says, obviously concerned about the youngster.

A man who drinks coffee only on special occasions, Bueford says he doesn't "get too keyed-up during a shoot, and that's one trouble. You get to shooting too much and you get too calm about the whole thing. You see, they say a good shooter doesn't have any nerves, but he couldn't shoot those things if he didn't have them. Good shooters just learn to control them."

Although there is no retirement age in the sport, most shooters usually don't do so well after 55 or 60 years of age. Those clays streaming out at 55 miles an hour are usually just a bit too fast for aging eyes and reflexes.

Bueford, at 41, still has lots of time to go after his main ambition: "I want to be able to break 100 straight from 27 yards every time I walk out there. I wish I could break enough so that they'd wish they had never heard of a 27-yard shooter."

At the root of that ambition is Bueford's main gripe about competition shooting. The handicap. In normal trap, the shooter stands 16 yards from the trap house, but in handicap shooting, gunners are placed from 18 to 27 yards 54 NEBRASKAland away, depending upon their average. Bueford's high average puts him at the 27-yard line.

"The purpose of handicap is supposed to make shooting distances fair for everybody, but it doesn't work that way," he argues. "There is just not that much difference in shooters.

"A lot of these short-yardage shooters can shoot just as well as I can, but they're cheaters. They won't break a score and get any yardage until they go where there's some money. Why, they will just miss a few targets along the way so they don't come in first. It's what we call sand-bagging. I understand they have the same trouble in bowling.

"I go to a handicap shoot and if it's a big shoot there are about half-a-dozen of us at 27 yards, and 600 between 19 and 22 yards. There's just not that much difference between shooting and shooters. It is highly unusual for a long handicap shooter to win; in fact, it's almost unheard of," he claims.

What he would like to see is the good shooter placed back to 25 yards at the beginning of each year. "Then, if you get back to 26 or 27 yards you've won something, and probably you deserve it."

No matter where he shoots from, Bueford has a number of sharp-eyed fellow NEBRASKAlanders for company. Since World War II, Nebraska has turned out more All-American trapshooters than any other state in the Union.

When a Nebraska team won the state-team event at the Grand American Trapshoot in Vandalia, last August, they did it by scoring 992 out of 1,000—tying a record set in 1959 by a Kansas team. Along with Bueford were Bob Dietemeyer of Lincoln, and Jim Columbo, John Voss and Jim Beck, all of Omaha.

No matter where he goes, the genial rancher gets the same reaction from others that he gets around Big Springs: "Just Bueford". It's quite a compliment to pay a man whose shooting skill is almost legendary. THE END

OUTDOOR ELSEWHERE

Look, Mo, No Head. A game warden was busily manning a deer check station when a car containing two men stopped suddenly some distance from the check point. Suddenly, there was a sharp explosion, and a splattering of lead, metal and smoke. One of the men hurrying to unload his rifle accidentally discharged it, shattering the flywheel and rupturing the engine block.—Texas

Fishing's Good. The world fish catch record soared to a record 51.6 million metric tons in 1964. Peru led, followed in order by Japan, China, the U.S.S.R. and the U.S.A.—Washington, D.C.

Trapped Trapper. A Wisconsin woman writes, This past winter my folks decided to live trap the flying squirrels that chase around in their attic all winter, and release them some miles away, but the first one they caught was so appealing th^.t they got to worrying if it would be able to find shelter and food elsewhere. They released it back in the house, and that was the end of that project. They just live with them now." —Washington

High-Paid Bear. Next to President Johnson, the highest paid "public servant" in Washington is Smokey the Bear. Last year he was averging $9,000 a month, and in 1964 his earnings totalled $54,586.16. Smokey is a 15-year-old black bear in the Washington zoo. By law, you can't take his picture commercially without pay, and every penny of his royalties go to the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Service.—Pennsylvania

Braving the Wilds. United States Department of Agriculture research shows that picnickers seldom use tables more than 250 feet from a parking area. Tables more than 400 feet away weren't used at all.—Colorado

Sweating Guns. Perspiration is a major enemy of firearms. After a gun has been handled, the metal parts should be wiped off with a lightly oiled rag. Otherwise fingerprints may be preserved in rust. Taking a gun out of the cold into a warm room can also cause rust-producing condensation.—Oklahoma

The Real Thing. Game Commission officials were assembling mounted specimens of beaver, bear cub, fawn deer, etc., for a county fair exhibit when a small boy with an obviously younger sister in tow came up. He pointed to the specimens and addressed the girl in a confidential tone, "I don't know how to explain this to you, but they were real once."—Pennsylvania

Tale of Woe. A Pennsylvania District Game Protector recently wrote his central office: "During the past month I have had calls from persons complaining about groundhogs in their yard, rabbits in their garden, deer in their field, birds in their attic, skunks in their cellars and even in one case I had to remove a pigeon from a furnace pipe in a basement. Also at the beginning of the month I had a skunk under my own front porch, and he let go with everything he had. Last night a squirrel somehow got into my kitchen and chewed everything he came to. What I want to know is who do I call to complain to?"—Pennsylvania

Mad Moose. The Moose Run Golf Course at Anchorage, Alaska is appropriately named. Moose have become the latest hazard to test the golfers' nerves. The hefty beasts seem particularly attracted by the pins on the various greens, which they gather around, singly or in groups. Besides being tough on the turf, the terrible-tempered animals do not take kindly to being beaned by a ball. —Travel Weekly

Wait for Me. Two nonresidents stopped to gas up their pickup truck for a hunting trip. One of the sportsmen was sleeping in the pickup's camper and when the driver stopped, he awoke and got out to stretch. The driver returned and, failing to notice his partner's absence, drove away. After about 200 miles of hard hitchhiking, the weary hunter caught up with his surprised buddy.—Wyoming

Bear Facts. The long debate in barber shops, sporting goods stores, and hunting camps has finally been settled. There really are bears in Missouri. Two black bears were spotted drinking at a pond, and game officials got plaster casts of the tracks as proof. Bears were once common in the state and may now be making a comeback—Missouri

Going Back. An unusual hunting area is a tract of about 8,000-acres in the Cumberland National Forest of Kentucky. Here hunters are permitted to use only longbows, crossbows, muzzle-loading rifles, and muzzle-loading shotguns. All other types of hunting bows and firearms are barred from The Primitive Weapons Area.—The Conservationalist

Statistic. Young hunters less than 20 years of age are responsible for more than half the hunting accidents. —Ontario

NEBRASKAland TRADING Classified Ads: 15 cents a word, minimum order $3.00. August '66 closing date, June 1. BOATING

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BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

BEEKEEPING; a profitable hobby. Learn the art of honey production. A complete correspondence course now offered by a 2500 colony commercial beeman. Write for particulars. Arnold Apiaries, Box 287, Arnold, Nebraska. 69120.

DOGS

HUNTING DOGS: German Shorthairs, English Pointers, Weimaraners, English, Irish, and Gorden Setters, Chesapeakes, Labradors, and Golden Retrievers. Registered pups, all ages, $50 each. Robert Stevenson, Orleans, Nebraska.

BRITTANY SPANIELS, registered, nationally known champion sires, pups, older dogs. Reasonable, terms, extras, shipped. Embrheights, Box 5, Beaver Dam, Kentucky.

LABRADORS, English Pointers and Irish setters, registered, males $35, females $25. Just right for hunting this fall. Roland Everett, Atkinson, Nebraska.

AKC, UKC Bloodhounds, UKC Redbones, AKC. UKC, Black and Tans Pds. Illustrated Folder $1. W. B. Frisbee, R-3, Madison, Missouri.

VIZ SLA puppies and started dogs available. Soni Brook Selle at stud. Free brochure. Graffs Weedy Creek Kennels, Route 3, Seward, Nebraska.

A.K.C. REGISTERED BEAGLE pups. Top gun dogs. Write me your needs. Guy Gossett, Carterville, Illinois.

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When Writing to the Advertisers, Please Mention You Saw it in NEBRASKAland 56 NEBRASKAland FISH BAIT

AFRICANS 3V2", $11.50, 1,000; 4" up $12.50, 1,000. Formula treated for toughening-condition. Cliff's Worm Hatchery, Lawrence, Kansas.

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MARIBOU FISHING Jigs. Assorted colors. 5 for $1. For crappies, bass, and bluegills. Miss Marion Teeters, Walthill, Nebraska. 68067.

GUNS

ATTENTION RELOADERS—We don't sell catalogs. We just sell quality and service. We are jobbers for and carry a complete stock of these lines: Alcan, Bushnell, C. C. I., Dupont, Eagle, Hodgdon, Hornady, Hercules, Lee Loaders, Lyman, Lawrence Shot, Norma, Redfield, Remington, RCBS, Shur-X, Speer and Texan. Walter H. Craig, Box 927, Selma, Alabama. Phone 872-1040.

NEW, USED AND ANTIQUE GUNS. Send long addressed 10£-stamped envelope for list, or stop in. Bedlan's Sporting Goods, Fairbury, Nebraska.

HUNTING

BUCKSKIN JACKETS. Deerskins tanned. Send 50c for Buckskin money poke and complete catalog. Berman Buckskin Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dept. N.

MISCELLANEOUS

COLLAPSIBLE Farm-Pond Fish-Traps: Animal Traps, postpaid. Free information, pictures, Shawnee, 3934-AX Buena Vista, Dallas 4, Texas.

WANTED: to complete my personal collection. Nebraska hunting permits prior to 1940 Federal duck stamps any date. Write Richard J. Elston, Conservation Officer, Box 42, Tekamah, Nebraska

MAKE BIG MONEY raising Guinea pigs, Rabbits, Mink, Pigeons, or Chinchillas for us. Free information. Kenney Brothers, New Freedom, Pennsylvania.

FIBERGLASS CANOES. Three exciting models. Easily assembled kits. $34.95 up (factory direct). Free literature. Riverside Canoes, P. O. Box 5595KB, Riverside, California

FOR SALE—Chain link portable dog kennels, For more information phone 466-6968 or write Arthur Maronde, 3325 North 70, Lincoln, Nebraska.

LOSING HAIR? Balding? Dandruff? Free copyrighted booklet. Dr. Shiffer Laboratories 583 Euclid Arcade, Cleveland, Ohio. 44115

STONEGROUND CORNMEAL. Most complete line Health Foods. Many processed daily. Come see us or write. Brownville Mills, Brownville, Nebraska.

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MYERS ALBINO ACRES Recreation Camp. Girls 9-16. Horseback riding on the famous white horses and other sports. Stuart, Nebraska.

WIZARD WORM CALLER operates on House Current. Pops up worms like magic. $4.95 postpaid. Money back guarantee. Sierra Electronics, Box 3272, North Hollywood, California.

SCHOOLS

GAME WARDEN, Government Hunter, Forestry, Park and Wildlife Services announce job openings regularly. Prepare at home for outdoor work, good pay, security. Complete information Free! Write North American School of Conservation-KX, New Port, California. 92660.

SCUBA EQUIPMENT

BOB-K'S AQUA SUPPLY, Nebraska's largest Scuba dealer. U.S. Divers, Sportsways, Voit, Swimmaster, Scubrapro. Air Station, Regulator Repair, Telephone 553-0777, 5051 Leavenworth Street, Omaha, Nebraska.

OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the Air SUNDAY KGFW, Kearney (1340 kc) 7:05 a.m. KTTT, Columbus (1510 kc) 7:30a.m. KRGI, Grand Island (1430 kc) 7:40a.m. WOW, Omaha (590 kc) 7:40a.m. KMMJ, Grand Island (750 kc) 7:40a.m. KVSH, Valentine (940 kc) 8:00 a.m. KXXX, Colby, Kan. (790 kc) 8:00a.m. KBRL, McCook (1300 kc) 9:45 a.m. KAMI, Coxad (1580 kc) 9:45 a.m. KODY, North Platte (1240 kc) 10:45 a.m. KLMS, Lincoln (1480 kc) 11:00 a.m. KIMB, Kimball (1260 kc) 11:15a.m. KMA, Shenandoah, la. (960 kc) 12:15 p.m. KOGA, Ogallaia (930 kc) 12:30 p.m. KFOR, Lincoln (1240 kc) 12:45 p.m. KCNI, Broken Bow 1280 kc) 1:15 p.m. KUVR, Holdrege (1380 kc) 2:45 p.m. KHUB, Fremont (1340 kc) 4:40 p.m. KNCY, Nebraska City (1600 kc) 5:00 p.m. KRVN, Lexington (1010 kc) 5:40p.m. KTNC, Fails City (1230 kc) 5:45 p.m. KFAB (Mon.-Fri.) Nightly MONDAY KGMT, Fairbury (1310 kc) 1:00 p.m. KSID, Sidney (1340 kc) 6:30p.m. WEDNESDAY KJSK, Columbus (900 kc) 1:30 p.m. KCOW, Alliance (1400 kc) 4:30 p.m. FRIDAY WJAG, Norfolk (780 kc) 5:30p.m. SATURDAY KCSR, Chadron (610 kc) 6:00am KCOW, Alliance (1400 kc) 9:30a.m. KOLT, Scottsbluff (1320 kc) 11:45 a.m. KAWL, York (1370 kc) 12:45 p.m. KHAS, Hastings (1230 kc) 1:00 p.m. KRFS, Superior (1600 kc) 1:00p.m. KWRV, McCook (1360 kc) 1:45 p.m. KBRX, O'Neill (1350 kc) 4:30p.m. KMNS, Sioux City, la. (620 kc) 6:10 p.m. DIVISION CHIEFS Willard R. Barbee, assistant director Glen R. Foster, fisheries Dick H. Schaffer, information and tourism Richard J. Spady, land management Jack D. Strain, state parks Lloyd P. Vance, game CONSERVATION OFFICERS Chief, Carl E. Gettmann, Lincoln Ainsworth—Max Showalter, 387-1960 Albion—Gary L. Baltz Alliance—Richard Furley, 762-2024 Alliance—Leonard Spoering, 762-1547 Alma—William F. Bonsall, 928-2313 Arapahoe—Don Schaepler, 962-7818 Benkelman—H. Lee Bowers, 423-2893 Bridgeport—Joe Ulrich, 100 Broken Bow—Gene Jeffries, 872-5953 Columbus—Lyman Wilkinson, 564-4375 Crawford—Cecil Avey, 228 Crete—Roy E. Owen, 826-2772 Crofton—John Schuckman, 388-4421 David City—Lester H. Johnson, 367-4037 Fairbury—Larry Bauman, 1293 Falls City—Raymond Frandsen, 2817 Fremont—Andy Nielsen, 721-2482 Gering—Jim McCole, 436-2686 Grand Island—Fred Salak, 384-0582 Hastings—Bruce Wiebe, 2-8317 Hay Springs—Larry D. Elston 638-4051 Kearney—Ed Greving, 237-5753 Kimball—Marvin Bussinger, 235-3905 Lexington—Robert D. Patrick, 324-2138 Lincoln—Leroy Orvis, 488-1663 Lincoln—Norbert Kampsntder, 466-0971 Lincoln—Dale Bruha, 477-4258 Long Pine—William O. Anderson, 203-4406 Nebraska City—Mick Gray, 873-5890 Norfolk—Robert Downing, 371-2675 North Platte—Samuel Grasmick, 532-9546 North Platte—Roger A. Guenther, 532-222CI Ogallaia—Jack Morgan, 284-3425 Omaha—Dwight Allbery, 558-2910 O'Neill—Gordon Nelsen, 336-2061 Ord—Gerald Woodgate, 728-5060 Oshkosh—Donald D. Hunt, 772-3697 Ponca—Richard D. Turpin, 2521 Tekamah—Richard Elston, 374-1698 Thedford—John Henderson, 645-5351 Valentine—Elvin Zimmerman, 376-3674 Valley—Daryl Earnest, 359-2332 Wayne—Marion Schafer York—Gail Woodside, 362-4120

WHERE-TO-GO

MOUNT VERNON GARDENS SOWBELLY CANYON

PERCHED ATOP a towering bluff inside the city limits of Omaha, are Mount Vernon Gardens. Overlooking the Missouri River, these magnificent gardens are a prime tourist attraction in eastern Nebraska. Their serene beauty and formal landscaping appeal to all who visit them.

Mount Vernon Gardens are a replica of George Washington's original gardens and bowling green as they appeared at the first president's home in Mount Vernon, Virginia. They are located four miles south of Dodge Street on 13th Street, just below the South Omaha Bridge on U. S. Highway 73-75.

For out state visitors to Omaha, Mount Vernon Gardens should be near the top of the list when it comes to planning a sight-seeing trip in the Gateway City. Omaha residents find the gardens an ideal place to spend weekend afternoons.

Every flower, every tree, and every step through the wooded lanes bring a message of solace and contemplation. A sweeping glance over the resplendent rose garden brings calm reassurance to the viewer. The sturdy oak trees lacing the steep hills on the south of the park, are cool oases of shade for summertime visitors. There is plenty to see and admire in a hour's visit; a half-day is even better. Return again and there is a different mood, a different air about the place. But the beauty never fades.

Pride of the gardens, and a most talked about feature, is the immense display of roses that runs the color gamut from brilliant red to pearl white and back again. Even yellow and deep purple blooms can be seen after the warm June sun waves its magic wand over the rich loam. Some of the roses continue blooming until late fall.

The Omaha Parks and Recreation Department has pledged an extra measure of care for the 25 varieties and 700 plants of roses in 1966. All eyes of the flower world will be on Omaha from September 11 to 13 when the American Rose Society meets there for its annual convention.

Not to be outdone by the rose beds, according to some visitors at the gardens, are the fascinating and numerous trees. In a 15 minute walk, the visitor can discover at least 17 different varieties of trees. Some are truly rare in this part of the continent. There are linden, ash, marine locust, redbud, Kentucky coffee, English walnut, Pfitzer, willow, and cedar. Others are bur oak, soft maple, American elm, white pine, Austrian pine, flowering crab, American walnut, and hackberry.

Another highlight of the gardens is a plot, south of the roses, that blazes with hundreds of beautiful flowers. Dahlias alone rival the rainbow with their various hues while a display of phlox attracts onlookers by the droves. Other flower varieties are Geraniums, Salvia, Colves, Celosia, Alyssum, Fibrous Begonia, Tuberous Begonia, Cleome, Petunia, Moss Rose, Jacob's Coat, Torenia, Vinca Rosea, and Canna.

Best time of the year to visit Mount Vernon, says the Omaha Parks Department, is around the middle of June. On early summer weekends, it is not unusual to find 6 to 700 people strolling through the gardens; 25 acres. The park is open year-round to visitors. There is no admission charge to the gardens.

History buffs will find a six-foot marker standing on the east lawn, erected in memory of Maximilian, Prince of Wied. The prince explored the Missouri River in 1833 and '34. Later, he published an enjoyable and interesting account of his experience. Another marker, east of the Portico, supports a replica of the sundial that marked the hours at Washington's Mount Vernon.

The flowers, the trees, the view across the river basin, all combine to make a visit to Omaha's Mount Vernon Gardens an unforgettable experience and a long-recalled pleasure.

Another prize attraction for NEBASAland travelers is Sowbelly Drive along Sowbelly Canyon, located approximately eight miles northeast of Harrison in Sioux County. Its scenic attraction is entirely different from that of Mount Vernon Gardens, but it is strikingly beautiful in its rugged western grandeur.

A tumbling creek along the valley floor complements the piney crags that thrust scarred faces to the sky. But there are things to do as well as see in Sowbelly Canyon and trout fishing is one of the greatest. Wise old scrappers are in the creek, waiting to match wits with any angler. Every fascination and feature of the spectacular Pine Ridge country is here to see and try. A never-to-be forgotten trip is in store for those who follow Sowbelly road. THE END

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removal of all Indians from Minnesota, including the Winnebagoes.

A vote-wary government was quick to comply and the Winnebagoes were told to pack up and move to the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota. Their firearms wTere confiscated and when they refused to move, the military went to work on them. The Winnebagoes went to South Dakota.

Crow Creek was even worse than the Winnebagoes had any right to expect. The tribe was located next to the Sioux, who were still smarting under the Winnebagoes refusal to join the uprising of the previous year, and were not feeling neighborly. Even worse than the Sioux threat were the living conditions. Because of the Missouri River's unpredictable course, the tribe was almost half a mile from the nearest water. Denied guns, hunting was a virtual impossibility for the Winnebagoes. What food they got was skimpy and of poor quality and gun-shrinking hunger soon moved into the lodges of the frightened and displaced people.

Several times, the Winnebagoes sought official approval for a change but the government wasn't listening. When all their pleas failed, the Indians took matters into their own hands and plotted an escape. Their plan was simple; build enough canoes to take the tribe down river to the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska where they were reasonably sure of a welcome. To spread the risk, small parties would make the float. With a little cunning and a lot of luck, tribal leaders were confident it could be done.

When the plan leaked out to the watchful military, officers visited the camp and warned the desperate Winnebagoes that any escape attempt would be stopped by the garrisons along the river.

Ignoring the warnings, the Indians went ahead. It took almost a year for the Winnebagoes to pull their sneak. Some were unlucky and the guns along the river collected their bloody toll but 1,222 tribesmen made it to Nebraska.

The Omahas were tolerant of their visitors and probably helped them settle. By this time, the authorities were having second thoughts and allowed the fugitives to stay in Nebraska. Later, the federal government relented and granted the Winnebagoes a portion of the Omaha Reservation for their own. This year, the Winnebagoes mark their Nebraska Centennial since the land was officially turned over to them in 1866.

When the Sioux hit the warpath in 1864, some of the Winnebagoes, already in Nebraska, joined the Omaha Scouts and fought with the U. S. Cavalry against the common foe. The return of these scouts initiated the first of the annual powwows that now attract thousands of visitors to the Winnebago Reservation each summer.

After years of wandering and more than a generation of hardship, a proud people had found a lasting home. A home where the color of a man's skin is no bar to acceptance. THE END

Nebraska's most beautiful vacationland... THE PINE RIDGE COUNTRY

A unique blend of western history and scenic beauty are yours to enjoy when you visit the Pine Ridge Country, Nebraska's year-round outdoor recreation and vacation capital.

Two state parks, Chadron and Fort Robinson, are both located in the Pine Ridge area. Toadstool Park and Agate Fossil Monument are among the "must see" attractions on your vacation schedule.

For the outdoor family there are camping grounds equipped with modern accommodations, cool fishing waters, and the very best in mixed-bag hunting. Deer, antelope, and wild turkey are among the reasons why the Pine Ridge area is called Nebraska's "big game capital".

Whether you plan a weekend trip or a full vacation, Pine Ridge Country fills the bill best; best in scenery, best in hunting and fishing, and best in western hospitality.

This summer plan to see Nebraska's most beautiful vacationland, the Pine Ridge Country.

For a colorful folder on Pine Ridge Country's points of interest, write to either Chadron, or Crawford Chambers of Commerce.