NEBRASKAland

Speak Up

MORE OLD PHEASANTS — "I just read in the May issue of NEBRASKAland the discussion regarding early pheasant plantings in the state. I was raised in Thayer County, and in 1910 or 1911, was employed on the old Hebron Register. I remember that W. D. Galbraith, one of the county's early settlers, had some ringneck pheasants shipped to him from Oregon. He released them on a farm he owned southeast of Davenport. They were the first pheasants I ever saw. I was then about 18 or 19 years old. "Mr. Galbraith, deceased for many years, was Thayer County's first treasurer and second sheriff. About 1921, George Hall, then sheriff, obtained some pheasant eggs and hatched them under hens. He built shelters resembling natural habitat and kept them just west of the jail under some trees all summer. He released them on farms that fall. As I remember it, Mr. Galbraith also experimented with partridges without much success."—Ray E. Clark, Bennet.

FAN LETTER—"After reading your advertisement in our Minneapolis paper, gathering a gang together, and hunting in and around Wayne County, I feel I must write a 'fan' letter. "You Nebraskans are the most courteous, hospitable people I have ever met. Every farmer invited us to hunt, even offering their hunting dogs to use. There were no exceptions. "Folks saying hello on the street impressed us with their sincerity. "My son and I will be back—hopefully two or more times in 1966."— Lawrence W. Nelson, St. Paul, Minnesota.

HORNY PROBLEM—"When I was a little girl growing up it wasn't unusual to find a bleached buffalo skull in the pasture when I went after the milk cows for the evening milking. I would bring it home and add it to our growing pile of bones of various species of wildlife. So I received a slight sense of shock when I turned to page 33 of the April NEBRASKAland and saw the caption "Buffalo skull, symbolic of Bill's hunting feats." An authentic buffalo skull —at least, the one we have in our yard—is very broad at the top, and has rather short horns with only slight curvature. The horns are quite thick at the base where they connect to the head. Most of the specimens one sees around here aren't complete ones; they are sluffed off at the base with part or all the jaw and teeth gone, but they are authentic. It is very unusual to find a buffalo skull on the prairies any more. "I hope the people come to visit Scout's Rest Ranch this season, but before they do, I hope the people in charge of it find a better symbol. "We certainly enjoy your magazine, and I sent the (Continued on page 9)

September Roundup

SEPTEMBER SPREADS its awe over Nebraska like the shadow of a lumbering giant—slowly and solemnly, each step taken with perserverance and deliberation. The land, once green, turns slowly to a warm, golden brown. Birds desert their summer homes in search of a more secure warmth. Leaves forsake their airy attachments and fall into rustling heaps over a spent earth.

But the lazy, mellow days only belie the fervor underneath—the fervor of Nebraskans, ever ready to welcome the new season and bring it under their command.

Archers who have had a go at antelope can case their bows a half hour after sundown on September 16, but there is little need to because the next morning sees deer as legal game for bowmen. The gun toters have their day on September 17, too, when the season on sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens, and a three-day rifle season on antelope opens. Hunting for big game begins one-half hour before sunrise and continues until one-half hour after sunset during the season. The hours for small game hunting are pending.

But some won't be pleased with September for it's heading-back-to-school time. The old familiar fishing pole must be traded in for a No. 2 pencil and a lined note pad. Tanned coeds return to indoor classrooms on September 12 at the University of Nebraska. Other colleges open soon after.

Just five days later, red-hatted fans will raise the roof on Memorial Stadium in Lincoln when their favorite eleven comes roaring onto the gridiron for a tussle with Texas Christian University. The mighty "Big Red" team seeks to repeat their 1965 record, the first undefeated regular season since 1915.

Nebraska Wesleyan University will turn its eyes towards the goal posts when the Plainsmen meet Huron College of Huron, South Dakota, September 23. Omaha University Stadium, built m 1949, hosts Hiram Scott College of Scottsbluff who will tackle the Omaha Indians, September 24.

Many of Nebraska's high school bands sound off at their own opening games across the state. But on September 9 they all get together for a grand strut at the University of Nebraska on Band Day, September 24, when the Huskers host Utah State.

Nebraskans are a competitive breed; they like to hoot and holler for their favorite contestants or get right out there and try it themselves. Professional wrestlers will be inside the ropes for four bouts in Omaha at the Civic Auditorium, September 3, 10, 17, and 24; and at Lincoln's Pershing Auditorium, September 13 and 17.

Horse racing takes top billing as a spectator sport, winding up a 21 day schedule in Columbus, September 5. Six days of hoof-pounding excitement are set for Mitchell, September 3-10. Madison hosts the Madison Downs from September 8 through 24, then the action moves on to Atokad Park at South Sioux City on September 27, for 29 big days of racing.

For those who would rather do than see, the State Archery Bowhunters Jamboree at St. Paul, September 11, follows close on the heels of the State Field Archery Tournament at Scottsbluff, September 4-5. Both are sponsored by the Prairie Bowmen of Nebraska.

The Omaha Bird Club plans an outing on September 17 to the Chet Ager Nature Center in Lincoln. The itinerary includes passing by the lakes at Ceresco Flats where shorebirds and other migrants are still at their summer rendezvous.

Ak-Sar-Ben's Livestock Show, labeled the "world's largest junior livestock show", is paired with an RCA- sanctioned Championship Rodeo for wide-open entertainment in Omaha, September 23-October 1.

Other rodeos and fairs spark cities across the state, but the queen of them all is the Nebraska State Fair, September 2-8. Tennessee Ernie Ford takes the grandstand spotlight. But not everyone waits for a fair to get a party going. Bayard has an Annual Fall Round Up, September 2-3, with something planned for the entire family—a ladies tea, softball games, kid's parade, and free barbecue.

The annual Hay Days Celebration September 9-10 at Cozad includes the Nebraska State Siphon Tube Championships for competition in three categories: Dawson County men, state-wide boys and girls aged 15 and younger, and state-wide men and women.

Carleton, the Milo Center of Nebraska, is planning a flavorful affair September 10 when they hold their 14th annual Milo Day Celebration sponsored by the Carleton Community Club.

The businessmen in Battle Creek have planned open house on main street September 16 and 17 to thank the public for their patronage. Prizes will be given away to the hum of local entertainment.

Zebulon Pike made history 160 years ago when he persuaded the Pawnee Chief Caracterish to lower the last Spanish flag to fly over the Louisiana Purchase and raise in its place the American flag. Guide Rock commemorates this historic event September 25.

Nearly as historic as Zebulon Pike's job is Jack Benny's claim to be 39. This all-time great of show business, whose career has stretched for many, many years through radio and television, will bring "One Hour and Sixty Minutes with Jack Benny" to Ak-Sar-Ben members September 4-6 at Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum.

"A rose is a rose is a rose", a famous quotation by Gertrude Stein, is one way to describe the (Continued on page 8)

WHAT TO DO

SEPTEMBER Roundup

breathtaking display of roses that will be brought from all sections of America and exhibited at the American Rose Society Show in Omaha September 11, during the American Rose Society National Convention. The exhibit, open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., is open to the public.

A musical comedy based on the Roman plays of Plautus is scheduled for eight performances at the Lincoln Community Playhouse. "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum", by Shevelove and Gelbart, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sandheim, is based on the Roman forum. There is nothing subtle about this winner of six Tony awards. It blends eight song hits with some of contemporary theatre's best slapstick comedy. "If it doesn't make you laugh, it is too late to see the doctor."

One of the greatest traditional jazz pianists will appear in an outdoor concert at the University of Nebraska on September 23. Earl "Fatha" Hines and Trio are no amateur group. The jazz leader has played with some of the finest jazz players in the history of music, including Louis Armstrong and Jack Teagarden. Earl "Fatha" Hines was voted the jazz musician of 1966 and ranked highest in Playboy's 1966 poll of jazz pianists.

The medical profession from Lincoln and surrounding areas will meet in the Capital city the same day, September 23, for a 50th anniversary celebration of the Lincoln Clinic which was founded in 1916 by three physicians. Now it has 18. The afternoon and evening meeting includes a series of scientific talks by visiting physicians and a special banquet.

As the gentle fall season becomes a companion to the landscape, so do September activities become attached to Nebraska's people.

SPEAK UP

beautiful 1966 NEBRASKAland Calendar to our cousin in Hannover, Germany, as he is very curious as to what our part of the country looks like, especially the Pine Ridge area where we live".—Mrs. Lawrence Wohlers, Crawford.

The skull pictured is indeed that of a buffalo or, to be absolutely correct, that of an American bison (Bison bison) which was killed last April in the normal reduction of the "Pete" Peters private herd in Lincoln County, Nebraska. The animal was a bull, weighing approximately 1,700 pounds.

At Scouts Rest Ranch, the bison skull in question is the property of George LeRoy, Park Superintendent, who killed the animal for Mr. Peters. He later placed the skull on a post to dry and bleach where it was snapped by our photographer. No connection with W. F. "Buffalo Bill" Cody, other than symbolic, was implied or intended by NEBRASKAland, and we do not propose to use the skull as a "symbol" at the park.—Editor.

THANK YOU—"I am writing this note to you to express my personal thank you for the fine hunting trip which I and three companions completed in your state.

"You are to be commended for the fine work, and hospitality you put forth to both resident and nonresident hunters. I personally think our state could learn a thing or two from you folks. We stayed in the Wilcox area, and had the good fortune of meeting one of your men, Bert Frink, who is the area manager of Sacramento-Wilcox Game Management Area. His hospitality will be long remembered by us. With men of his caliber working for you I am sure there will be many others who feel as I do about your conservation department.

"Once again thank you."—Richard A. Mitchell, Sergeant of Police, Naperville, Illinois.

NEBRASKANS IN SPOTLIGHT—"I believe your program for bringing in out-of-state hunters is the best I have ever seen. The book, map, and motel guide is very important to all of us who don't know your fine state.

"The people of Nebraska should also be put in the spotlight, because in the three years I have gone hunting in the state, we have not encountered any problems in finding places to hunt."— Jack L. Pierson, St. Joseph, Missouri.

LOUISIANA HUNTER—"Last year I, with a party of six, returned to Louisiana from a five-day hunt in the vicinity of Norfolk, Nebraska. We had a wonderful hunt and while we did not fill the bag limit each day, our kill was certainly satisfactory. And while recognizing the courteous manner in which your office handled our contacts, I also must pay special tribute to the many farmers and property owners of the Norfolk area for the gracious hospitality shown to nonresidents. We made many, many contacts requesting permission to hunt on posted land. Our reception was warm and we did not encounter a single refusal.

"In closing I must say that Southern hospitality certainly met a challenge in Nebraska."—Lantz Womack, House of Representatives, Franklin Parish, State of Louisiana.

COMING BACK—"I would like to express my sincere thanks for all of the contributing factors which made my one-week's hunt in the northeast section of your state one of the most memorable experiences in my many-traveled days.

"The gracious responsiveness of your many chambers of commerce, the personal contacts with all of your fine people, particularly the farm and ranch folks themselves, was heart warming.

"The pheasants and small game were co-operative, too. While resting on grassy knolls, my companion and myself reflected on the heaven-like atmosphere that was temporarily ours, hoping to return in future seasons."— T. J. Leischner, Chicago, Illinois.

NEBRASKAland invites all readers to submit their comments, suggestions, and gripes to SPEAK UP. Each month the magazine will publish as many letters as space permits. Pictures are welcome.—Editor.

HUNTERS' CHECK LIST

WITH THE OPENING guns of Nebraska's mixed-bag hunting scene tuning up, it is time for hunters to spruce up their equipment and decide where they are going to use it. The state's hunting areas offer a diversity in game for field-wise gunners. But just as there are tricks to tracking and bagging, there are also tricks and hints to make that upland-gunning holiday a memorable and profitable hunt.

Many suggestions for veteran and novice alike are so obvious that they may seem ridiculous. Yet the omission of any one item can put the skids to scattergun and rifle fun.

\\)f Longtime Sand Hills stompers are well aware of the problems to be encountered in Nebraska's sand lands, and they have come up with some practical solutions. A five-gallon can of water, so unimposing in the lush southern valleys, is a blessing in disguise in the grass country.

\Vf Water can double for drinking if properly purified or for fire fighting as the situation demands. Soaking burlap bags with the wet stuff provides formidable fire fighters. The sacks can be stored in a corner of the automobile trunk, ready for instant action.

\%% Travel in the northern region is often limited to the four-footed variety, but for those who insist on taking the family car along, a shovel is worth its weight in gold. Automotive problems on sifting sand have a way of becoming axle deep, and nothing beats a good spade to get to the bottom of the situation. For convenience, the tool should be small. A folding pack shovel will do nicely.

\Vf Another big help in keeping the wheels of hunting progress turning are the before-mentioned burlap bags. Placed under churning wheels, these often provide enough traction to minimize the use of four-letter words to keep a modern prairie schooner on even keel. Tow chains are handy to have along.

\Vf Service stations are a dime a dozen in people country, but in game land they are at a premium. No well-heeled sportsman should venture into the region without at least one five-gallon can of petrol stashed away.

While most of these items are peculiarly suited to Sand Hills' going, they come in handy in other hunting areas as well. The sport is fast becoming a matter of logistics, and those in the know analyze their needs before D-day arrives. Gear that is needed in flatland shooting is also handy in the sandy areas. It is wise to choose supplies and equipment that can do double duty.

\Vf Firearms, of course, are important on most hunts. Before lining up on a record-breaking rack, it won't hurt to run a few rounds through the mill on a target range. Sighting-in will save later disappointments and is well worth the pittance it costs in ammunition. Blasting a few loads through the old scattergun is a top-drawer idea, too. A prehunt check will reveal any malfunctions in the weapon before pulling down on next week's dinner. A cleaning kit, screwdriver, and pair of pliers make simple field repairs a snap. A jointed ramrod doesn't take up much space but it's a handy gadget to keep the old meat Dole in shape.

~^f For the sportsman whose gun cabinet looks like the arsenal at Fort Dix it is common sense to match correct ammunition with each firearm. Feeding the wrong shells into a weapon in the field can be both deadly and embarrassing, with the accent on the former

[^Encountering a rattlesnake in Nebraska's hunting areas is indeed a rarity. However, some hunters draw trouble like a magnet. For these hapless few, two of the best puncture-preventers are high-topped leather or rubber boots, and a snakebite kit. The latter is for use if the former fails. Basic first-aid kits are also ideal for treating minor cuts and scrapes.

H* For the man on the go in the field there is nothing equal to a pair of good boots. They should be the right size and high enough to keep out troublesome pebbles and burrs. Though they come in every size, color, and material, boots should be certified water resistant at purchase. This feature is mighty welcome when fording streams or sloshing through marshes. A hunter dusting off last year's footwear should check their water resistance. If it is on the weak side, there are several commercial products available to bring them up to par

[g* Tramping over hill and dale from dawn to dusk can be a tiring project with the feet fading first. Boot fit has a lot to do with staying power, but if 10 NEBRASKAland there is a lot of walking on tap, a small can of foot powder is almost essential. Socks can also mean the difference between a happy hunt and a big hurt. Wool socks are best. They should be hole free and offer enough sole cushion to be comfortable. Also a spare pair of woolies can mean contentment after a shooter sinks into some deep water. Broken lacings are a bother in the field, too. A close check on old ones and a spare pair on hand will remove this irritation.

Waterfowl hunters have long been blessed with a wide variety of extra-length rubber boots. When new, they are great. But, like a tooth brush, they sag with age. A close check for holes in hip and chest waders will reveal leaks that can make wading mighty mean if they are not repaired.

EK When hunts call for weekend or extended stays, it is always nice to have a pair of slippers or moccasins on hand. While these are far from essential, they are ideal for lounging after a hard day in the field.

ffl* Tree or blind hunters are seldom as interested in their feet as the beetle-crushing types, but they need some essential gear, too. In the predawn damp, chilling dew can cut clear into a gunner's bones. Waterproof camouflaged outfits are first choices in many hunting circles, with olive-green rain parkas and trousers running a close second. Also, an effective preventative for this discomfort is a poncho or large sheet of plastic. Either covering will provide adequate protection from wind and water.

Qtf Most hunting buffs have settled on their clothing long ago. But for the beginner or veteran contemplating new togs, here are a few rules in outdoor fashion. Clothes should be chosen for the occasion. Loose-fitting oufits can provide both warmth and coolness when augmented with heavier coats or lighter fabrics. Headgear is important to anyone contemplating a foray into the tules. Some outdoorsmen prefer parkas, but there is also a wide range of hats and caps to choose from. Both types of dome coverings are available with swing-down ear flaps that keep ears pink and warm even on subzero days.

|~R* Clothes-conscious sportsmen should give some thought to the canine corps, too. If Fido refuses to work areas with high sandbur populations, a pair of bowser boots might be a wise investment. These paw-preserving articles should be well secured to keep them from flopping and the dog should be given some time before the hunt to get used to them.

|"iy For waterfowl hunters, a new coat of paint on decoys and a bit of calling practice will enhance shooting chances in the seasons ahead.

~Vf With the age of automation taking the spotlight in man's ever-onward push for recreation, paddlefoot gunners have not been left out. When working liquid areas without a dog, a casting rod and three or four floating plugs with treble hooks will fill the retrieving bill by casting over a downed bird and reeling him ashore to save a shooter possible grief in icy waters.

H* For do-it-yourself fanatics who like to get as close to nature as possible when picking up floating birds, some sort of life preserver is a must. Many prefer inflatable doughnuts for their frigid forays, but some stick to regula;ion life jackets.

~f Knives play important parts on the outdoor stage, too. Hunters should not bedeck themselves with blades bordering on a machete for normal field work, however. For small game, a three-inch cutting edge is ample. Larger kills necessitate longer blades, but still, a knife blade of four or five inches will do the job. A small sharpening stone will keep all systems "go".

LB* A game strap is also handy in the field. On warm days it helps cool out the game before bagging the take in plastic. After encasing the animal, the bag should be closed with a rubber band. An ice chest will keep the kill n good condition while transporting it.

3* There are many times when a little light shed on a subject makes it a bit easier to understand. A flashlight and an extra set of batteries can be good friends when darkness descends on the tall uncut. Hand-held sealed-beam spotlights are also (continued on page 50)

LAND OF PLENTY

THE PONDEROSA covered buttes towered above me like sentinels. Off to my left I could see the bubbling waters of Spring Creek as they wound through the canyon to keep an appointment with the White River, four miles downstream.

With the magnificent scenery to distract me, I wasn't ready for the flock of turkeys that popped up on the ridge 30 yards ahead of me. For a brief second we stood staring at each other and then the birds broke, running down the opposite slope. If I was to fill my turkey permit I had to act fast. I swung the 12-gauge autoloader into action just as the last two birds were disappearing over the rise. A load of No. 4's blasted through a fringe of pine needles and I saw my bird stumble, then disappear over the hill. Running uphill I stopped when I could see the course the birds had taken but there was nothing in sight. Taking a few steps down the hillside, I was jolted into action again as the bird, dragging a wing, came flapping out from behind a big pine. Swinging on the quartering bird I touched off the second round and the turkey folded, beating out her life in a final flurry against the dry duff of the forest.

Admiring my first wild turkey, I wondered if all visiting hunters could be as lucky as me. I had been hunting the birds less than an hour and had bagged a 10-pound hen, not bad for a novice turkey hunter from Wisconsin. This was the third day of my Nebraska hunt. After a 10-hour drive from my home in Madison, Wisconsin, I spent the night in Lincoln. Then next day I went on to the Ulysses area where two of us bagged six chinks in about three hours and added three quail for good measure to start out my mixed-bag odyssey and get my shooting eye in shape.

From Ulysses, my hunting trail led me through the Loup City area where I got one more ringneck to fill my day's limit while en route to the Don Forney ranch, south of Gordon.

Nebraska's claim as the nation's mixed-bag capital had enticed me to try for both large and small game. Through the advice of friends that had hunted the state I chose the Pine Ridge area for deer and turkey. The Nebraska Game Commission advised me on the pheasant and quail areas along with good duck hunting spots that I could try on the way to the Ridge. A word from a Nebraska friend got me an invitation to hunt with Don. I also made reservations at Fort Robinson State Park at Crawford for my deer and turkey hunt.

The second day of the hunt started with Don offering me an air tour of his hunting country.

"Should be able to show you some wildlife," Don offered as we boarded his twin-engined aircraft. "You can appreciate the expanse of Sand Hills country a lot better, seeing it from the air."

Lifting off the pasture runway, the ship quickly climbed over a vast panorama of rugged grass-covered hills. I was amazed to see the large number of lakes and marshes that pocked the valleys.

"We will hunt on that lake," Don said, pointing down. "It's Smith Lake and a state recreation area. I have some land adjoining it to the south and it has some pretty good pheasant hunting. These other lakes all have very good duck hunting," he continued as we 12 NEBRASKAland turned and headed south to Cravath, Twin, and Spring lakes. All held good flocks of ducks, mostly mallards, with a few small bunches of divers such as redheads, ringnecks, and buffleheads.

Farther south, Diamond and Joy lakes passed under our wing tips. Swinging east, Don called my attention to a band of antelope that raced away from the noise of the aircraft. Heading north again, we saw a herd of five mule deer standing atop one of the highest hills in the area. A coyote, trotting across a meadow, paused to eye the intruder from the skies.

The hour-long tour was soon over and we taxied up the strip and stopped almost in front of Don's door. After a hasty breakfast prepared by Mrs. Forney, we loaded guns and shells into the pickup and headed for Smith Lake.

"I know a couple small potholes on the south end of the lake that always seem to have a few ducks on them," Don remarked. "We can pull a sneak on those, then hunt pheasants in the shelterbelts and weed patches on my place there at the lake."

"Sounds good to me," I answered as we rattled over an auto gate and followed a trail toward the creek that leads to Smith (Continued on page 55)

NEBRASKAland's HUNTING FIVE

SOME PEOPLE SAY that mathematics is the universal language. While others may disagree violently, they cannot dispute the fact that Nebraska gets its message across quite well with the number "five". Insignificant as it may be to many, to hunters the numeral represents the state's five hunting districts. Mention of it sets trigger fingers to twitching from Omaha to Chadron.

Within the districts hunters find a land that is as diversified as any in the country.

Nebraska's great northwest makes up District One with antelope, turkey and mule deer making this western country a hunters' paradise. Rugged terrain and a carpet of Ponderosa pine add a beauty to this country that is uncontested anywhere.

District Two—by far the largest of the districts, sprawls across the north central part of the state. Here mule deer and grouse are prime targets in the grass-covered Sand Hills. Waterfowl and ringnecks also put zing into the District Two hunter's life.

District Three is the charmer of the crew and is just coy enough to keep hunters courting for a long time. Set along the rolling Missouri River in the northeast, it is an ideal setting for deer, pheasants, and waterfowl and can keep the guns barking warm all season.

Pheasant populations are generally good in District Four. Hunter success keeps the gunners coming back year after year.

In the southeast, quail is king but ring-necks are strong contenders for the crown. Easy-to-hunt terrain and the state's highest human population make District Five one of the most hunted sections in the state.

Say what they may about numbers and their significance, hunters can be sure of one thing. Five is the number to count on in Nebraska.

District 5

HE WHO RISETH up early in the morning, disturbeth the entire household, and ventures forth into the fields shall be known as Hunter. And if he makes too much noise getting out of the house, he will be known as a dead duck long before he even sees any game. This fellow, Hunter, will also get the riot act if he steps on the cat, tips over a bottle of milk, slams a door, or eats the cookies meant for milady's bridge club on his way to Nebraska's District Five.

To some men, these pitfalls are serious, but to those intent on hunting the Fifth District of NEBRASKAland's game-spilled terrain, it's a calculated risk, the name of the game, and well worth any sacrifice.

What's in this Fifth District that seems to put method into a sportsman's madness and make the trip worthwhile? For one thing, this 15,000 square-mile section in the southeastern corner is the state's most popular bailiwick for the bobwhite quail. This darting daredevil with his unpredictable flight habits is said to be a special agent hired by the ammunition industry to pump up business each fall. A box of 7^'s can go mighty fast if Hunter doesn't pull down with lightning speed when a covey of bobs rockets skyward.

The most common and successful method used to rout hiding quail from their haunts is to work plum thickets and small semiwooded plots adjacent to cropland. Hunter will do well, if he wants to avoid being skunked, to walk toward any brush or undergrowth in the vicinity. Often, the quail will run into these dense patches, sit tight until flushed, then offer a rise of thrilling targets that will test the ability of even a crack shot. It's a stiff challenge to bring down a quail, and in (Continued on page 39)

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR HUNT

MY UNCLE HENRY had a beat-up old box camera that went everywhere with him. It sat beside him in frigid duck blinds, dangled from a leather cord at his belt when he stalked deer, and, clamped to a gunstock, gave him pictures of quail flushing over the sights. Some pictures with Uncle Henry in them disclosed a white blur, mute evidence of the pull string he'd tied to the shutter lever, with the camera anchored to a stump, 50 that he might include himself in the photograph.

Uncle Henry had pictures of his days afield that didn't dim with the years as memory pictures do. At the flick of an album page he could relive any hunt of importance he had ever taken. With his primitive equipment, most of the photos were far from technical masterpieces, but this was of little importance in relation to the story he wanted to tell.

His story-telling technique was simple. His theory was that every hunt has a beginning, a middle, and an end, and each segment was worth a roll or two of film.

For instance, a duck-hunting chronicle began with photos of a hunting buddy busily repairing decoys, and of himself getting his calling lip in shape with the help of an old phonograph and a record. He followed the preparation pictures with a silhouette against a morning sky, of decoys being placed, of a flight of pintails zipping low over the blind, and a close-up of his hunting partner's tense face as he huddled low in the blind.

He caught the skim ice breaking under his Chesapeake as the dog plunged toward open water after a 18 NEBRASKAland downed duck, and a study of the dog sitting proudly with a big mallard in his velvety jaws. There was the blurred string picture of him and his hunting partner having a cup of vacuum-bottle coffee during a lull in the shooting. Had he bothered to check, Uncle Henry could have bought a little delayed-action gadget that trips a camera a few seconds after flipping a lever, and a little better camera would have provided a time delay built right into the shutter.

To finish off his hunting saga, Uncle Henry zeroed in on a pair of mallards and his shell jacket hanging on an old stump, with a handful of empty 12-gauge hulls scattered in the foreground for added interest.

What Uncle Henry lacked in technical knowledge, he tried to make up in imagination. He told dozens of hunting stories with his camera, but no two were alike.

A pheasant series made his pointer the star. He told it from the dog's viewpoint, with the camera low to the ground. There were shots of old hunting boots framing the landscapes, strong upward angles of the hunters against the streaked autumn sky, and a shot of a wary ringneck nearly hidden behind a screen of grass.

That was the time one gunner became careless, so there's a sad-faced close-up of him examining what was left of his gun barrel after it had accidentally become plugged with sand. Uncle Henry looked for these sidelights to spark up his picture stories, though they were seldom as dramatic as this one. But over the years he came up with his share of unusual pictures.

Naturally, the dog was featured in the retrieves, accepting the rewarding pats of pleased hunters. The series ends with the dog sprawled ludicrously before the home fireplace, taking a well-earned rest.

Somewhere in each series was a photo of the trophy or the total bird count at hunting's end. Uncle Henry calls this the "bag shot." He despised the usual smug "look what I did" type of picture, and tried to present the lifeless specimens as attractively as possible. A silhouette of the hunter and the kill against the sunset was a favorite treatment, or the huntsman and his dog admiring a particularly nice bird, with the others draped over a nearby log.

Inevitably, Uncle Henry turned to color film, and laid the old box aside for a sleek looking 35mm single lens reflex and a 400mm telephoto lens to replace the regular one when he needed larger wildlife images. The dealer installed a skylight filter on both lenses to remove the excessive blue cast often found in photos of subjects in shady places, under cloudy skies, or on days when the humidity is high. An electronic flash and a meter to read the light for the more precise control needed for color rounded out the outfit.

Uncle Henry played with these new toys all summer until he could handle the more complicated equipment as easily as the old box, and that fall his album took on new glow. Framed in a circle of (Continued on page 41)

DISTRICT 4

DISTRICT NO. 4 runs the gamut of geography from flat tablelands to broad river valleys with a goodly mixture of Sand Hills and big reservoirs thrown in. But of more interest to sportsmen than the topography of the district is the diversity of game animals and birds that call this 17-county chunk of NEBRASKAland home.

An east-west rundown of the counties in this patchwork of land and water includes Franklin, Kearney, Buffalo, Dawson, Phelps, Gosper, Harlan, Furnas, Red Willow, Frontier, Lincoln, Hitchcock, Hayes, Dundy, Perkins, Keith, and the south half of Custer. The Keith County boundary dips into part of gigantic lake McConaughy and laps into District One.

A wide variety of cover harbors a fine assortment of game for either the frying pan or the trophy wall. White-tailed deer stalk the river drainages while mule deer course the more open areas. The Garden and Dismal Antelope Management Units tap portions of Keith and Lincoln counties. These two areas have a total of 275 antelope hunting permits authorized. Wild turkeys, descendants of stock introduced a few years ago, strut where the right combination of woodland, cropland, and water meet their particular requirements. Pheasants, prairie grouse, and bobwhite quail are found wherever suitable habitat exists. Waterfowl hunting is good to fair along the rivers and on some of the lakes and impoundments. Rabbits and squirrels are no rarities here but resident hunters do not give them much of a play.

Gunners should not discount the bushytails and cottontails even if (Continued on page 41)

BONUS HUNTING

EXCEPT FOR shivers, the hunters were motionless, huddling against the morning's chill. The sky lightened, transforming dark to false dawn. Behind the makeshift blind, the land rose gently, silhoueting the scant Sand Hills' scrub against the horizon. The hunters could hear the inhabitants of the riparian community welcoming the misty dawn. A rustle in the darkness directed the hunters' eyes to the source of the sound. A jackrabbit was on the move, his outline becoming sharper as the light grew.

He browsed his way leisurely through the slough grass, pausing, half concealed, near the edge of an opening less than 40 feet from the wool-clad men. Then it happened. Out of the tall dropseed and June grass above the "jack" weaseled a coyote. One of the men nudged his partner, pointing to the nocturnal predator directly behind the unsuspecting rabbit. They tensed with excitement as the bunny suddenly sensed his arch foe. Panicky, the young jack burst from his partial concealment. He fled in the wrong direction, putting himself between the coyote and the lake. His long legs pushed him hard past the hunters but his chances were slim. Dashing in at an angle, the prairie predator cut him off 20 yards from the far side of the duck blind. A quick turn was the rabbit's last evasive effort but it failed and in a moment it was all over. The coyote finished his meal and disappeared into the wakening morn.

Many men will never see such an incident. But others, like the duck hunters, will see first hand, and not soon forget, the never-ending conflict between predator and prey. Anyone can enjoy many, many extra benefits from a day afield if they keep their eyes and ears open and if they know where and what to look for. Seeing a rare mammal or bird, or even watching commonplace fauna in an unusual situation, can be as exciting as landing a five-pound trout or getting a double on quail.

What the Nebraska hunter sees depends, of course, on what topographical section of the state he's hunting

On the other hand, an early-afleld hunter will have an excellent opportunity to see another of Nebraska's larger carnivores — the badger. Although this fossorial animal is primarily nocturnal, he is seen early in the morning. He prefers grassland, and hunters should look for him near his characteristic hillside burrows in the high plains.

Two other nongame mammals, the opossum and the raccoon, have similar characteristics. Both prefer wooded areas along the streams and around lakes. They are nocturnal but can be seen during the day. A quail hunter along any southeastern Nebraska stream stands a good chance of spotting one or both of these mammals. The primary range of the marsupial opossum is in the eastern half of the state, with fair concentrations found in the Republican Valley, but the raccoon lives wherever there is suitable habitat. Some even live in the Sand Hills where trees are scarce.

Another water lover is the muskrat. He occupies the marshes, ponds, lakes, and streams, and favors heavy growths of rushes or cattails. Duck hunters in the Sand Hills or rain-basin area should keep their eyes peeled for this semiaquatic resident.

Nonresidents will probably find the predators easier to identify than their prey due to their size. The western harvest mouse, the deer mouse, and the kangaroo rat all contribute to nature's "chain-of-life" relationship. Their minute size, however, makes sightings uncommon, even though the deer and western harvest mice are two of the most abundant mammals in Nebraska. The white-footed deer mouse occurs in nearly every major terrestrial habitat and is commonest where there is a moderate cover of grasses or weeds.

Hunters will occasionally see these small mammals in the field, but most observations are made along the highways after dark.

Visitors to western Nebraska should watch for that clown of the West—the roly-poly prairie dog. He is not as plentiful now as he was but there is still a number of dog "towns" in the state.

A few Nebraska squirrel hunters may be surprised to see an unfamiliar species. The Franklin's ground squirrel is typically an inhabitant of the tall grass prairie of eastern Nebraska but in recent years has extended his range westward along the river systems. Sometimes called the whistling ground squirrel, because of his remarkably clear musical whistle, he prefers marginal habitat. This half-pint-size gnawer frequently selects a brushy bank or draw for his burrows. Secretive, and the fact that 90 per cent of his life is spent underground, makes sightings rare in comparison to numbers.

The NEBRASKAland hunter will find more birds than mammals. Though the visitor in the field will undoubtedly be acquainted with many, some of the birds will be unfamiliar. The hawk family itself boasts 20 dif- ferent species or subspecies common to the state and this is but one of the smaller groups. Like mammals, birds have a preference. Even among members of the same family requirements may differ greatly. The redtailed hawk, for instance, is noted most frequently in the eastern half of the state. Pheasant and quail hunters can spot this bird soaring in (Continued on page 65)

District 3

THE NEBRASKA Game Commission which normally displays a lot of dash and imagination in conducting its affairs is unusually stodgy in naming its administrative districts. It gives them a numerical designation like District No. 5 or District No. 2 and that is that. Now, the Commission could come up with titles like Honker Haven for District No. 4 or Mule Deer Paradise for District No. 1, and not be very far wrong. If it did, District No. 3 in northeastern Nebraska could have the apt title, "Home of the Rugged Ringnecks", but for that matter the same name could apply to all of the other districts, for all have good numbers of pheasants.

Take the experience of two hunters named Fred and Gene who were hunting District Three pheasants last year. It was late in the season and hens were legal game. Fred was giving a patch of plum brush a probing when a hen flushed. It was an easy chance and the drabie tumbled out of the air at the bark of the 20 gauge. That was to much for a sulking rooster who exploded skyward and ran full smash into a load of No. 5's. The cock hit the ground so hard he bounced. He wasn't even fluttering when Fred picked him up.

This delayed double ended the day for Fred so he started the half-mile walk to the car, carrying the rooster by the neck. The bird was unceremoniously tossed into the back of the station wagon and forgotten as the hunters started home.

Fifteen miles later, the pair heard a commotion behind them. That "dead" rooster was doing his best to find an escape hatch. Gene stopped, grabbed the rooster by the legs and swung him hard against the edge of the door. A quiver or two and the rooster went limp.

"That fixed him,,, Gene commented. "He won't come to again."

Untruer words were never spoken. In less than 10 minutes there was an even more pronounced scurrying in the (Continued on page 63)

District 2

PICTURE 18,000 square miles of grass-covered rolling Sand Hills. Dot them with dozens of lakes and sprinkle with a generous assortment of game and what have you got? District Two in Nebraska—one of the finest hunting areas to be found in the nation. Just name your game and chances are you will find it in this 17-county area. The district lies between State Highway 27 on the west, U. S. Highway 281 on the east, and between South Dakota and State Highways 92 and 70.

Two divisions of the Nebraska National Forest, Bessey and Niobrara, are in the district as well as two National Wildlife Refuges. Four principal deer management units are located here. These are Sand Hills, Keya Paha, Calamus, and Loup. About 6,700 deer permits were issued in these four districts for the 1965 fall deer hunt and hunters racked up a success ratio of better than 75 per cent.

The Niobrara and Snake rivers in the north of the district generally have excellent deer herds but plenty of deer are to be found along the Calamus, Dismal, North, Middle, and South Loups, and the Elkhorn (Continued an page 60)

ENDOWMENT FOR DUCKS

THE FEDERAL GAME inspector topped a gentle rise in the Nebraska Sand Hills one day in early fall, looked down, and gasped at the sight below. There, splashing and bobbing around on a long, deep lake were hundreds of young, almost-ready-to-fly canvasback ducks. Sensing the man's presence, the young webfeet drifted to the far end of the pond until it seemed that nearly half of the lake was covered with canvasbacks.

It was a rare and inspiring sight to the federal man. The year was 1910, and with spring hunting seasons decimating the nation's waterfowl populations, young Ray Holland knew the ducks needed a break on their breeding grounds to keep their numbers high. Besides, to a man endowed with a love for living things, it was heartening to watch the paddlers splash and scoot about in the clear water.

Now, more than half a century later, this same man has helped instigate a project in Nebraska that will insure similar scenes in the future. Ray Holland is now 83 years old but his voice still rings with enthusiasm when he discusses the future of waterfowl in this country. As president of the American Game Association, he, along with Seth Gordon, is responsible for a special gift from the association which will benefit both ducks and duck hunters in Nebraska.

This gift is a 160-acre tract and marsh, located 19 miles south of Johnstown in Brown County, near the heart of the lush Sand Hills. It will be open this fall to public hunting and maintained each spring and summer as a waterfowl breeding area. Nature lovers, waterfowl 30 NEBRASKAland and upland game hunters, and conservationists alike are the owners of the marsh land which was purchased for $12,041 from a private owner and then deeded to the Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission. The Game Commission will hold the land in trust for ducks and duck hunters for all time to come.

The selected site is honeycombed with cool, springwater seepages and boggy marshes to make it one of the nation's finest natural wild-duck factories. Not only do ducks abound to offer gunners top action, but populations of deer, pheasant, grouse, snipe, rail, and rabbit make it a virtual sportsmen's paradise, Even antelope, on the comeback in Nebraska, frequent the general area.

Persons who have been acquainted with the area for more than 50 years say that the marsh has never been dry, or duckless, due to the network of springs which form a seemingly unlimited supply of underground water. The site enjoys an excellent local reputation as a hunting area, and access is easy via a well-maintained county road, one mile east of Johnstown.

Standing on a hill on the northeast corner of the marsh land is a bronze marker with a message of particular significance. It reads: "This area is a gift to the ducks and duck hunters of North America from the American Game Association. It shall be maintained by this state in perpetuity as a wildfowl nesting area in the spring and summer, and as a public shooting ground during the open seasons for hunting."

Although not the first in the nation to be erected by the association, which pioneered the fight for wildlife preservation, the plaque imbedded in red granite is at least the first to be "envisioned" for such a project. What Ray Holland saw back in 1910 influenced his thinking later when the association decided to begin an unprecedented national program to preserve duck breeding grounds and public shooting areas.

The only restrictions placed on the gift provide that the property must always remain in public ownership and be open to hunting when the surrounding area is open.

It was no easy task for Game Commission personnel to locate a suitable marsh. Much preliminary work went into the early stages of the project before a decision could be made and the proper subsequent action taken. Once a solid offer from the association had been fielded, first-stage negotiations couldn't go fast enough, for other states were clamoring for attention and bidding for consideration on similar projects.

The Sand Hills marsh selected and deeded to the people of Nebraska is a part of that great grassland that Ray once knew so well, hence Nebraska was his first choice for assistance under the association's sweeping program. Other states, however, moved into line quickly and were presented with somewhat similar projects. Four other states to receive early allocations were Minnesota, Colorado, Idaho, and North Dakota.

How is it possible for this association to lay hard money on the line for the benefit of people they may never see? And where does all of this money come from? The answers to these two questions are clearly evident in the unparalleled history of the association and its members, many who already rank as patron saints to the cause of conservation. It's been a story of strong dedication, charged emotions, great minds, and even jailed officials since September 25, 1911 when the association was chartered in the state of New York.

Today, the American Game Protective and Propagation Association is retired from (Continued on page 62)

District 1

EACH YEAR, come hunting time, Nebraska undergoes a population explosion. Out-of-staters by the numbers cross the state's borders to join residents in a lively shoot fest. They couldn't pick a better spot, for NEBRASKAland is game rich.

One of the most popular spots for natives and visitors alike goes under the mundane title of District One. However, many hunters ignore Nebraska's northwest's official label for the more fitting "Hunters' Heaven". And, they aren't far from wrong, for this is truly the land that backs Nebraska's claim to the Mixed-Bag Capital. Deer to turkey to rabbit, all are here for the taking. Each year, hunters come away smiling in satisfaction, packing brim-full game bags.

District One is a big country. Bordered on the south, west, and north by Colorado, Wyoming, and South Dakota respectively, it is bounded on the east by Cherry, Grant, Arthur, and Keith counties. Within these boundaries lies almost 14,000 square miles of some of the most fertile game land (Continued on page 64)

NOTES ON NEBRASKA FAUNA. . . Mule Deer

A NATIVE NEBRASKAN, the mule deer, is so named because of his oversize ears. There are 11 recognized mule deer subspecies in western America, but the Rocky Mountain mule deer or more proper, Odocoileus hemionus hemionus, is the deer common in most portions of the western two-thirds of Nebraska.

Several characteristics distinguish the mule deer from the whitetail. His noticeably larger ears, short white tail with black tip, antler form, and size of the metatarsal gland serve as external features to differentiate the species.

Apart from these structural differences, there are peculiarities of behavior. The mule deer either runs with a stilted, stiff-legged gait or, when thoroughly alarmed, bounds with a unique motion by striking downward and backward with all four feet simultaneously. This Antler form and long ears are tips to mule deer identity, but bounding gait is clincher gait takes the animal high into the air with each bound. The whitetail usually runs or lopes in a normal fashion with the tail raised and waving from side to side. The tail of the mule deer is only slightly raised when running.

In many areas, the mule deer and whitetail occupy the same habitat. However, the mule deer prefers a more open habitat in contrast to the wooded river bottoms and fields favored by the whitetail. Open stands of Ponderosa pine and deep canyons interspersed with farmlands in Nebraska's Pine Ridge provide ideal mule deer habitat.

Male fawns may develop spike horns during their first year; the "buttons" beginning to show at the age of six months. Antler development of the mature bucks begins in the early spring, around March. The antlers grow quickly and during their first stages consist of fairly soft tissue, with much the same qualities as skin, fed by the blood vessels contained in the "velvet" covering. Beams and tines at this stage are club-like and are very tender and sensitive. Antlers harden gradually, and by September, are almost as hard as they will ever be, although velvet still covers them.

In early Autumn, bucks will rub their antlers against trees to remove the gradually drying velvet. By rutting season, the rack is clean and highly polished. The breeding season usually begins in October and ends in December with the "rut" reaching its peak in November.

The spring or summer birth of mule deer fawns is determined by the date of mating since the gestation period is about seven months. Adult does usually produce twin fawns.

Mule deer fawns are handsome, dappled, four to seven pound creatures. They have the instinct to remain hidden wherever the doe places them, almost never moving regardless of how close an enemy may approach. For the first three or four weeks of his life the fawn is left, usually perfectly concealed, in dense thickets, weeds, or grass while the doe browses close by.

Well-meaning people frequently find an apparently deserted fawn and adopt him. This is not wise. There is very little chance that a fawn found alive in the wild is actually an orphan. If the fawn is handled by humans and then left, the doe will probably desert her offspring because of the human scent. If the fawn is adopted by humans and successfully reared, he can become a menace. With many of his wild instincts frustrated and having no fear of man, the "tame" buck is truly a dangerous creature. Sooner or later he is almost sure to start striking or goring humans and will have to be destroyed. In about a month, the fawn may begin nibbling at green grass and soon is able to travel with his mother. By late summer, the fawn's diet change is normally complete and his spotted coat has disappeared. A mule deer's menu includes a variety of foods with leaves, buds, and twigs of browse plants, forbes, grasses, and various grains providing the major items.

Spring fawns weigh approximately 70 pounds by the time hunting season rolls around. An adult buck will normally weigh between 150 to 200 pounds hog dressed while yearling males and adult females will run 25 to 35 pounds lighter.

The recovery of Nebraska's deer population from the extremely low numbers of the early 1900's was very slow. As late as 1919, some authorities though that deer were doomed to extinction here, but by the late 1930's, deer were making a comeback.

Nebraska's mule deer population is now at a relatively high level arid technicians are confident that controlled harvesting will keep it that way. Barring unforeseen catastrophies there will be mule deer here for generations to come.

A General Jollification

A HUSHED EXPECTANCY falls over the crowd as the red-vested barker steps out. He waves his cane like a magician's wand and the audience surges forward. A dramatic pause and the barker launches his spiel.

"Folks. I want to read a few testimonials for Dr. Childer's Honey Elixir. Now, here's a letter ... 'I was a wallflower . . . but after taking one bottle I was Cupid's target.' "

"Now friends," the pitchman goes on, "one bottle of Dr.( Childer's Elixir is guaranteed for every man's disease. Hold up your hands, friends, for your bottles."

His assistants mingle with the audience, handing out bottles as hands shoot up, each clutching 50 cents. The sales are made to the running patter of the barker who mixes his hard sell with a few time-worn jokes.

It's pure corn but the audience loves it for this is the climax of Brownville's Fall Festival, a one-day event that ignores the 20th Century and returns to yesterday with whole-hearted enthusiasm. The festival, held the second Sunday of October, helps Brownville raise funds for the restoration of its famous landmarks and to help develop its tourist trade. During the festival, more than 4,000 people crowd into the tiny town along the Missouri River.

Main Street becomes "midway" with all the booths and exhibits straight from the day when Brownville was a bustling river port with aspirations to become Nebraska's capital city.

Backdropped by the flaming hills, the October festival begins with a traditional parade with a color guard, baton twirlers, bands, and plenty of horses. The parade is a big deal for the kids since many of them get a chance to march in it, much to the envy of their less fortunate companions. One of the most amusing units in the procession is a group of youngsters dressed in the costumes of the middle 1800's.

As the parade disperses, Brownville goes "old days" with a right good will. A lady sets up a spinning wheel and nonchalantly goes to work. Graciously, the spinner interrupts her work to explain the intricacies of this almost-lost skill. Visitors crowd around her as the lady's deft fingers feed tufts of wool into an ever-lengthening strand.

In a neighboring booth, a table of old-style kerosene lamps bring ohs and ahs from the antique lovers. More than one lamp changes hands as purses are opened and a few bills are exchanged. Next to the lamps, a table of fishing lures catches a stray buck or two as the anglers in the audience decide they need this particular plug or that certain spinner.

This is a bazaar, and the haggling and trading that goes on is equal to anything seen in the old quarter of Baghdad, but it's all in fun and the audience knows it. An exhibit of stuffed dolls, resplendent in period costumes, baits the little girls and parts Mom and Dad from their loose cash. The boys gather around an exhibit of stuffed birds and snakes and impress their buddies with their knowledge of Nebraska fauna as they try to identify a display of tanned pelts.

Across the street from the animal display, two women "work" a quilt. Spectators crowd around as the ladies flash their skill with the needles. Oldsters in the crowd trade reminiscences as they recall quilting bees of long ago. Quilting bees were the Ladies Aid, the Junior League, and the bridge sessions of the pioneer women. Wives for miles around would confiscate the family buckboard or even walk to the home of the hostess for a day of good needle work and plenty of visiting.

As the morning wanes, the visitors drift away from the exhibits and tour (Continued on page 39)

Federal waterfowl areas in south-central Nebraska that are open to public hunting

A GENERAL JOLLIFICATION

some of the restored mansions that dot the scenic hills around the town. Shortly after the Civil War, Brownville was one of the most important ports on the Missouri River. It was the jump-off for those who had their hearts and eyes set on the big country to the West and many a smart operator made a fortune catering to the wants of those who faced a long trek across the prairies before they reached their chosen homes. When fortune frowned, the town went into a long decline and many of the stately houses came close to rum before some farsighted Brownvilhans realized the historic significance of their community and set about restoring what they could. Brownville is literally a town that gambled its future on its past.

Around 2:30 p.m., the visitors gravitate toward Boettner Park for the big afternoon show. It starts with an "amazing" display of magic. Salt flows in an endless stream from a seemingly inexhaustable shaker, red, orange, and blue scarves streak out from a visibly empty tube, and flowers spring full-bloomed from a seedless pot. The feats of legerdermain are for the kids and few of them realize that the mysterious man from the "wondrous lands of the East" is in reality Judge William J. Schepman of Tecumseh.

After the magician delves into his bag of tricks for the final time, a shapely lass mounts the stage and shakes into a Nebraska version of the hula as country musicians pound out the beat. She is followed by a group of tap dancers. But these are all preliminaries to the big show—the medicine man and his marvelous wares. Medical science probably cringes at some of the extravagant claims made for those remedies but the crowd is not critical.

Caught in the spirit of the day and almost hypnotized by the spellbinding barker, the visitors buy Dr. Childer's Honey Elixir, knowing full well that its curative powers are probably as potent as a bottle of root beer. Still it is part of the atmosphere, a throwback to the days when a medicine show was "Broadway", T.V., the local movie, and the 1880 version of the Beatles to those who had little opportunity to watch good entertainment. Buying a bottle of the "wallflower" eliminator is small return for the fun and frolic of a good day.

Brownville's love of a festival goes a long way back. In 1860, Nebraska's first telegraph went through Brownville from St. Louis. The town's newspaper described the resulting celebration as a "general jollification . . . bonfires, illumination, fire balls, music, speeches, and toasts were the order of the day". Now, 106 years later, Brownville still knows how to enjoy "general jollification".

DISTRICT 5

some instances, even a dog wouldn't listen to the terrible things said after Hunter misses three straight shots at the fleeing phantoms.

A sometimes cue to birds in the bush is the rustling sound made by a running flock. The characteristic whistle of the brown bullets is absent when they flush, but Hunter may hear the high-pitched peep of an excited bird.

Once the quail is flushed up in front of the gun, he who hesitates is truly lost. A split-second pause can make the difference most of the time between a meal of alibi soup or tasty quail meat, but should Hunter get caught flat- footed when the birds flush the first time, there's further hope a little bit later. It's a trait of bobwhites to land only a short distance from their original launching site, so stalk on and keep alert for your big chance. Once -in the game bag, these six-to-eight-ounce bush hoppers are a delectable table treat and are sure to tickle the taste buds of almost any game gourmet.

Even though this district is both densely populated and heavily hunted, many gunners are able to pick off a plummeting bob with rewarding frequency. It's a virtual bobwhite paradise, as far as topography is concerned.

It's always sound reasoning for a quailer to slip a double handful of No. 6's into his vest pocket when traipsing this southeastern section. For it's an even-money bet that old Jawn Ringneck will spring up right under your heels sometime during the day. Not uncommon is the opportunity to drop a pheasant with one barrel, then turn to catch a rising bob with the other.

Although the wily ringnecks are scattered throughout the box-shaped region reaching from Falls City up to Omaha, west to Loup City, south to Red Cloud, then back to Falls City, their greatest numbers are found in the western area. Slashing canyons, located close to cornfields, characterize the pheasant range in the rugged northwest corner of the district. Here a dog can earn his own keep by covering the SEPTEMBER, 1966 39   endless weed patches that rim the canyons and fill the crevices.

Best spot for the dog is on the very bottom of the canyon with a double flanker of side-stepping gunners on each side. This gives the advantage to the hunter when he swings on a bird and makes spotting easier should the dog need more than his nose in retrieving. Then, too, don't fail to place a blocker at the end of the field or weed patch. More birds have used this escape dodge than could be stored in a barn, but you'll get yours if you play it smart.

Both resident and nonresident hunters need small game licenses to plink away at the area's squirrel population, but it is worth the cost. Highclimbing bushytails are a pleasant challenge to the steady-hand and eagle-eye clan of hunters. More heavily wooded than any other section of the state, District Five also boasts the highest population of squirrel.

One proven backwoods trick that will spell doom for chattering fuzz tails is to sit down in a promising spot in the woods, pick up a solid stick the size of a big cigar, and tap the stock of your rifle with it occasionally. Curiosity will soon replace the squirrel's fear, and he will pop out on a branch where the crosshairs of your scope can find him.

Experts say a slug fired at a chattering bushtail should never directly hit the target. Shoot, they say, at a spot close to the animal with hollow-point bullets, and the exploding impact alongside the creature will knock him from his perch. Just in case the "barking" trick doesn't work, try dead centering. It will probably put more nut gluttons in the game bag.

Another witty maneuver to follow if you hanker for squirrel stew, is to send your buddy or dog around to the opposite side of the staked-out tree. Often the scampering animal will see one hunter, then scoot around to the opposite side of the tree where he is wide open for a special delivery charge. A trained dog can replace the buddy in case a fellow hunter isn't around.

Squirreling is a lot of fun with small-caliber rifles but some landowners frown on their use. A shotgun loaded with high-based No. 6's will fetch them down. Generally, farmers and landowners are often quite receptive to squirrel hunters but be sure to ask permission. Late fall is considered best for squirrel sport, especially when the tree foliage has disappeared along the bottoms of the Little Blue, Big Blue, Nemaha, Missouri, and Platte rivers, and Turkey Creek. Squirrel season opens on September 1.

For those with enough belly to tackle something bigger than birds, District Five offers just the ticket — deer. The deer population in the region is almost entirely whitetails with just a sprinkling of mule deer thrown in for added flavor. Come September 17, archers will take up their sticks and strings to try to lessen the population for gunners who invade the area on November 5. In 1965, nearly 3,000 deer permits were issued for the four-management-unit district and hunters turned in success reports that looked like a General Motors' stock average. In the Wahoo unit, hunters nailed down a success average of 66 per cent. Though the others weren't as high, they too, did themselves proud.

Bunny populations in the lower part of the state are exceptional, though they don't border on the epic struggle in Australia. Most cottontail trippers prefer shotguns or small-caliber rifles for their harvesting. River bottoms and hay meadows are always good bets.

The rainwater basins on the western fringes of District Five are natural magnets for migrating waterfowl when the leaves begin to rustle in the fall. Though dry conditions this year may affect the sport in this area, fair to good action is anticipated on the small ponds and sloughs native to the region.

The Bureau of Sport, Fisheries, and Wildlife has purchased more than 3,000 acres of wetlands in the region and these areas will be open for paddle-foot gunners with the proper license and a duck stamp.

The small creeks and rivers in District Five are potential producers for those who cater to mallard, pintail, and teal. After securing permission to hunt from the owner, a shotgunner might be wise to sneak up on his game. Preferred loads for ducks are high-based 40 NEBRASKAland 4's. Goose hunting is largely confined to the Missouri River area on the eastern border where the early honker nights are often pulse-quickening sights.

Not to be left out of the trend toward progress, Nebraska has been introducing new twists into the outdoor scene for the last few years. The latest of these novel attractions for the hunter comes under the heading of the Cropland Adjustment Program—CAP. It is a state-federal program whereby private lands' which have been developed with wildlife cover will be open to public hunting. For improving his farm for game production and for opening the land to hunting a fee is paid to the landowner by the government. The program is administered by the Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service under the U. S. Department of Agriculture.

There is something new in the way of come-on's for these lands, too. Green-and-white signs, 24 inches by 24 inches, will be cropping up around the district to identify the CAP lands. Each sign will designate certain parcels of land as public hunting domain under the CAP project. There will be one large sign per farm. Smaller signs, 10 by 10 inches, designate the boundaries.

All of this is why our character Hunter considers a flying rolling pin, tumbling roller skate, or irate motherin-law as calculated risks. But he should worry—the hunting in District Five is well worth any peril.

HOW TO PHOTOGRAPH YOUR HUNT

yellow cottonwood leaves, he introduced his red-shirted hunter walking the Platte River bottoms for deer. A close-up of the man crouching at the water's edge examining a deer track included the inverted reflection in the water. In black and white the reflection would hardly have shown, but the color film picked up the ever rippling hue. He contrasted the brilliant autumn foliage with the more muted tones of earth, and in one blindingly backlighted picture of his partner, he used the electronic flash to open up the shadows and give color detail to what otherwise would have been only an inky silhouette.

The light weight of the 35mm camera gave him an idea. He removed the shoulder strap from the case, and replaced it with a short piece of heavy elastic so that the camera rode high on his chest when the elastic was looped around his neck. Another piece of elastic, its ends fitted with small snaps, ran around his back beneath his arms, with the snaps hooked into the loops of the camera case. This pulled the instrument snugly against his chest, where it rode firmly even when he ran, yet it could be raised to his eye in a split instant when he needed it. The elastic helped steady the rig by providing extra tension.

When Uncle Henry's hunting partner got the movie fever, about all he had to do was follow the story formula Uncle Henry always used. He learned quickly that any incident worth recording needs at least a long shot, a medium take, and a close-up, then back to a long shot to close the sequence and ready the viewer for the next bit of action. To keep the camera out of his way while he was doing serious hunting, he devised a simple holster type case that attached to his belt. He used lulls in hunting action to record the sidelights to keep when he applied cause, effect, and result to his hunting yarn. The film practically made itself.

For instance, one scene established Uncle Henry walking toward a half hidden fallen log and a tangle of brush. He emphasized that log by having it close to the camera in the foreground. This left no doubt that it was the cause of Uncle Henry's falling flat in the next scene, which was taken from a different angle. The effect of this bit of action flushed a covey of quail from the brush pile, with Uncle Henry in no position to shoot. The result was a take of Uncle Henry sitting sadly in the grass, rubbing a bruised shoulder while the dog came in and licked his face in sympathy.

This sequence was actually a recreation of the real incident since it is seldom possible to capture events as they occur. The scene of the flushing quail was cut into the film at a later date, having been photographed a day or two later when the quail had returned to their favorite nesting place. Uncle Henry was sport enough to go through the whole bit of action a second time for the camera's sake.

Over the years, Uncle Henry's hunting activity has diminished. His aging bones have dictated taking things a bit easier. His old hunting partner has moved away, and the dogs he hunted over have long since gone. But the pictures he has keeps old memories strong and vibrant.

What Uncle Henry has done, any other hunter with a camera can do, simply by adopting his technique of telling a story in photographs. The lasting reminders of hunting days will prove well worth the effort in the dim years to come.

DISTRICT FOUR

pheasants or other game are the main quarry. Hunters can occasionally fill their limits of pheasants in an hour or so, and if the weather is nice, who wants to quit and waste a beautiful autumn day? Eyeballing a big cottonwood down by the creek, you might just add a squirrel or two to the overall take. These four-legged chatterboxes are mighty fine eating. Also, keep tabs on the thickets and brush piles for a bonus bunny to add to the bag. Daily and possession limits are liberal on these little fellows, and their reputation on the table is almost legendary.

A hunter obviously will not always bag his limit of pheasants, for the birds do not sit idly by when a heavy footfall crackles through a dry corn field. These tough, spooky tricksters will sometimes make like an Olympic runner, disdaining to fly until the last second. Other times, a crafty rooster will wait it out and let an accompanying hen or two take to the air first, just to make sure the coast is clear.

Caution is a byword with good pheasant hunters. For example, a hastily-slammed car door will send ringnecks scurrying on foot to safety. When walking a field the hunter should move slowly and sidestep often to pick up any sit-and-waiters who try to backtrack when the coast is clear. It's also a good idea to stop now and then. For all his craft, old ringneck is very nervous, and this trick will often spook him if he thinks he has been spotted. A good dog is a valuable asset when the cover runs high, as it does in many District Four fields. Another sure way to success in the ringneck game is the block-and-drive (Continued on page 54)

WHERE TO HUNT STATE AND FEDERAL AREAS

Private Accommodations, Guides and Meals

Private Accommodations Guides and Meals

Private Accommodations Guides and Meals

Private Accommodations Guides and Meals

HUNTERS CHECK LIST

well worth their expense when the chips are down.

\\lf When light is required to provide heat, too, a waterproof case full of stick matches is ideal. Few seasoned hunters rely on lighters for anything more serious than lighting cigarettes in their front rooms.

H* Crystal balls are few and far between in hunting country. But a pair of field glasses can often achieve the same goal. Ideal for spotting game at long range, they should be inspected and cleaned before use.

\Vf Some people can get lost in their own back yards. For them, and for anyone else planning a trip into unfamiliar country, a good compass will keep them on course. Accurate topographical and road maps also help eliminate mobile confusion.

H^State law requires that every hunter, resident and non-resident, over the age of 16 have a license on his person at all times. Still, many hunters may leave them at home when the big day arrives. A cautious hunter checks all permits to see that they are signed and stamped before leaving home. Special hunting area boundaries should also be determined and obeyed, and check stations should be pinpointed. Youths with big-game hunting aspirations must wait for their 16th birthday to pull down on that prize-winning buck. Conservation officers take a dim view of hunters ignoring or forgetting these legal basics.

So, with the knowledge of an imperial wizard and enough equipment to declare World War III—and win, thousands of shooters will head out this fall. Nebraska has plenty of game with space galore for hunting. The rest is up to the individual.

WHOM TO CONTACT FOR HUNTING INFORMATION

Game Processors

DISTRICT FOUR

method. Drivers push the birds toward the blocking gunners until the birds yield to the pressure and take to the air. This squeeze play often sends pheasants flying during the last few critical yards separating drivers and blockers.

The rivers and reservoirs of District No. 4 are happy hunting grounds for waterfowlers. The rivers and reservoirs of the district host thousands of migratory birds each fall and when conditions are right the shooting is raving good.

Following the Platte and Republican River systems eastward to the doorstep of the pothole-studded Rainwater Basin, the webfoot seekers usually get some good shooting. Almost every species of duck found in the state, from mallards to scaup, send their delegations through District Four. First to feel the hunter's shot are the green and blue-winged teal. They are already veterans of a special season, September 3 to 11. After the bulk of the teal pull out, by mid-October the area is host to a big push of mixed ducks.

Then, after a brief slack period, the mallards usually arrive ,in the front of the first northener. Nearly 200,000 mallards came in November last year, and stayed the winter along with American mergansers and goldeneye. Seasons and bag limits are set by federal regulation. A Migratory Bird Stamp, (duck stamp), is a must along with a state hunting license.

Geese also have their periods of heaviest concentration around mid-October. The smaller Canadas start whistling down the eastern portion of the district along with an assortment of white fronts or speckle bellies then in November, the western Prairie Canadas, who weigh in at about six pounds, steal the show. Along with them in smaller numbers are the Giant Canadas, a subspecies once thought to be extinct. These tip the scales at between 8 and 11 pounds.

But there is a small dweller of the woody cover found along the river bottoms who has an equally avid following. Bobwhites thrive in the wooded land of the drainages. Not for weak-hearted hunters, bobwhites have a peculiar though endearing habit of whirring from underfoot at the approach of a hunter. Sometimes a stop-start walk will jump the small fea- thered bullets a little ahead of the gunner. Of course, quail hunting with dogs is the classic method. It works, too.

Grouse are also residents of District No. 4. Prairie chickens are found in a stretch of Sand Hills in the western part of the region, south of the Dlatte River. Here, they find the interspersion of agricultural land and sandy grasslands that they prefer. North of the Platte River, more prairie chickens and some sharp-tailed grouse 54 NEBRASKAland rub wings in the beginnings of Nebraska's vast Sand Hills region. A dog is an asset, but not a necessity for hunting the birds. A man on foot has a good chance of scoring if he avoids the skyline as he walks the choppies because grouse are in the habit of posting sentries to warn of approaching danger.

There are deer in those choppies, too. Mule deer prowl in open areas, ducking around sand hills by day, and feeding on the meadows at night. Just for variety, even spookier whitetails haunt the wooded stream courses, ready to flag their alarm. Hunters in the know scout their game in advance, keeping a lookout for the spot where that big buck beds down.

Another critter who keeps fairly regular habits is the crafty torn turkey. These rascals are as full of tricks as anything in the wild, and it often takes a good man with a call to bring one into shooting range. A good idea for non-locals is to find a resident gunner who has the lowdown on the gobblers. Chances are local scattergunners have made some pretty careful observations long before the season opened, and in turkey hunting forewarned is forearmed. Turkeys require a special hunting permit.

Next to an observing eye, a hunter's greatest asset is his weapon. Talking guns with a bunch of hunters is like arguing cars. Each man has his preference but more and more sportsmen are discovering the joys of the 20-gauge three-inch Magnum. This light, hard-hitting scattergun can push a hefty load of No. 6's at a pheasant, or fill a quail's vitals with 7y2's. Many hunters still tote a 12-gauge, however, and do right well with it. It's all a matter of what works for you. A switch to a tighter choke or heavier load might be advisable later in the season, when the game is spookier, or in the case of pheasants, a little heavier in the plumage department. A hunter who shuttles between 6's and 7i^'s for larger or smaller birds, respectively, won't go far astray. But when it comes to geese or turkeys, nothing legal is really too large. The only problem is that a 10-gauge Magnum smoke pole is harder on the hunter than it is on the hunted. And remember that shoulder punishing load will increase your range only about 5 to 10 yards. It will, however, throw a bigger and tighter pattern than the smaller gauges. Swinging over to the cap-snapping set, mule deer and antelope hunters should tote a scope-sighted, flat-shooting rifle, such as a .308, .30/06, .270, .243, or 7 mm Magnum, or maybe the old .244. White-tailed deer hang out in brushy places, so a brush-bucking .30/30 or .32 Special will do for them. Regulations stipulate that those who want to go the route of Daniel Boone and use a muzzle loader can't go below .40 caliber.

Archers have to use a longbow, of minimum weight of 40 pounds at a 28-inch draw. A legal arrow must have a sharp hunting head with a blade at least 7-16 inch radius from the center of the arrow shaft but not more than 12-16 inch.

Arrow pushers and gunners alike will find an assortment of clothing to suit their tastes. Camoflauge gear to match the foliage or blend with the snow are wise choices. Rubber-bottomed boot pacs are useful at times, but the hunter should have a pair of stout boots capable of taking a lot of rough usage. Thermal underwear and a parka are fine for late in the season. A good howler out of the north packs plenty of cold. Sun glasses are handy eye-savers against the glare of sun and snow.

Temperatures are capricous in District Four during the hunting seasons. One day may be almost balmy, and the next might be teeth chattering cold. The long-term mean temperature for the district in September is 48°, with an all-time low of 21°. In October, this tends to ride a little lower, with a long-term mean of 51° and an all-time low of 4°. November really starts to put the skids on the thermometer, with a long-term mean of 35°, and an all-time low of 25° below. Though this is mighty cold, prospective hunters should bear in mind that the all-time highs read 105° in September, 96° in October, and 83° in November. Cold-weather outfits are good insurance. It's easier to shed some gear than it is to shiver in inadequate clothing. Indications are that the stretch of Sand Hills in that area will be dry, and for cautious-plus stalking soft, noiseless clothing will be in order.

Cover and crop conditions will affect hunting in District No. 4. Hunters striking out southwest from North Platte will run into winter wheat fields, and owners take a dim view of hunters stomping over the greenery. Farther east, the alfalfa of the Platte Valley will be "heading out" for its winter rest. Corn and milo fields, in the east edge of the district, south of the Platte River, furnishes some good pheasant cover. Last year, by October 15, 10 per cent of the corn was harvested, and by the end of the month, 16 per cent was in. By the end of November, all the corn was in. By October 15, nine per cent of the milo (grain sorghum) was harvested, and by mid-November, all the crop was in.

Except in irrigated areas, dry weather is expected to make the grasslands brittle, but the weed cover shquld be on the light side this fall. Hunters should be extra careful about fire. One last tip. Ask permission to hunt. It's the law. THE END

LAND OF PLENTY

Lake. Stopping the truck, Don informed me that the pothole most likely to have ducks was just over the rise.

"Load up," he whispered, "I'll swing around to the south, you get in behind one of those hay stacks. The birds will come up into that north wind and should fly right over you." "Let's hope so," I answered, loading the automatic with No. 6's. Don crouched, picked up the cover of a big stand of sunflowers, and disappeared over a slight rise. I followed suit, staying low until I got behind a big stack, then slowly stuck my head up looking for the pond. It wasn't much in the way of a water area, but I saw a half dozen ducks fidgeting near the center. Staying out of sight I waited for Don to make his move. It wasn't long before I heard two quick blasts as Don jumped the birds. Looking over the edge of the stack I saw a plump redhead hanging in the wind. He saw me, too, but I had the jump on him. Swinging the 12-gauge into action I caught him as he sideslipped with the wind. Three other redheads were fighting the wind to my left so I stepped away from the stack, swung on the lead bird and dropped him with my second shot.

Don came up with two birds to congratulate me on my first Nebraska ducks. "You too," I grinned, "not bad shooting for a cowboy. Frankly, I amazed myself by killing two for two. I thought I would probably blow one or both."

"That's our limit of redheads for the day," Don said, "we'll have to try for some mallards after we give the pheasants a scare. That weed patch just east of the pond always has a few birds in it, let's work it first then go back by the old buildings and work the shelterbelts." Crossing a fence, we spread out and began a zigzag course through a field of fairly heavy weeds and grasses. We had hardly started when a hen blasted out from under my feet. Twenty-five yards farther, two hens went out in front of Don and then a rooster got up out of gun range.

"Let's move a little faster," Don called, "this heavy cover peters out SEPTEMBER, 1966 55   there at the fence line and the birds will be getting up pretty soon."

He hardly got the words out of his mouth when a rooster rose cackling into the wind from the end of the field, 75 yards away. Half running, we closed the distance just in time. Two cocks belted into the air in front of Don. His autoloader barked twice and one bird folded. About a dozen other birds flushed from the end of the weed patch.

I saw the gaudy colors of a rooster to my right and swung. I touched off too soon and probably shot 10 feet behind him. Picking up my target again I sent the second shot sizzling and the bird dropped.

With only two rounds in my double automatic I fumbled in my pockets for more ammo as another rooster jumped, but by the time a fresh hull clacked into the chamber the birds were far out of gun range.

"Boy, we sure goofed on those," Don said holding up his one ring- neck, "I missed my third shot just as you were shooting."

"It's times like these," I answered, "that I wish it was legal to have five rounds in the old blunderbuss. This two-shot auto felt just a little inadequate."

"Well, I'm sure there are more birds waiting over in the shelter-belts, so lets give 'em a try," Don said as we hiked back to the -truck.

Stopping at the east end of the trees Don suggested that I take the truck and swing around to the west to get between the trees and the adjacent marsh as the birds would head for the cover when they flushed.

Taking a stand about 30 yards from the end, I crouched and waited for action. A hen came sailing over my head, then a pair of birds flared off to the north, the rooster just out of gun range.

A shot halfway up the shelterbelt lit the fuse and it seemed as though a hundred birds exploded into the air at one time. The number was probably closer to 25, but birds there were. I picked out a cock coming in, touched off a shot, missed, turned quickly for a going-away shot and missed again. I jammed a fresh shell into the chamber just as the rooster came running out of the cover, eyed me for a split second and then winged off skimming the top of the grass to my right. I am weak on this shot, so in desperation I picked my lead, gave it an extra couple of feet and touched the trigger. The bird upended, nose dived into the sod, and cartwheeled to stop.

"Good shot," Don called as I picked up the rooster, "I caught one trying to get out through the trees and lucked out on a snap shot."

The second shelterbelt yielded only one rooster to Don's gun as he blocked while I walked the birds out. Late in the afternoon, after bagging a couple more ducks and one rooster, we headed back for the ranch. It was tough saying good-bye to the Forneys and upon their invitation I promised myself I would allot more 56 NEBRASKAland time to hunting their area on my next Nebraska hunt.

Heading for Crawford, I was again pleasantly surprised when I left the Sand Hills and entered the Pine Ridge country. The Ponderosa pine in this area is much like our jack pine of central Wisconsin.

The deer habitat is certainly different than what I am familiar with in my native state. The buttes, canyons, and creeks are as typically western as one can imagine. Underbrush is sparse, and I wondered as I pulled into Fort Robinson if I would be wishing for a scope on my .308 when I tried for deer.

John Kurtz, the amiable superintendent of the state park, made a couple of telephone calls and I was soon lined up to hunt with George James on his ranch, a 10-minute drive from the fort.

The morning dawned bright and clear as George and two Lincoln hunters clued me in on turkey hunting. A half-hour ride over narrow two-rut trails in a pickup found us topping out on the buttes that I had seen from Fort Robinson. Showing me the lay of the land, George suggested that I head into Spring Creek Canyon and hunt the creek.

"There's an old corral down at the foot of this canyon," he said. "I'll meet you there in a couple of hours It's right on the creek so you can't miss it. There are a couple bunches of turkeys using the creek, so we'll go up to the head of the canyon and hunt back towards you," he continued. Slipping a pair of No. 4's into the gun I began a one-half mile descent to the canyon floor. Most of the going was easy until I ran into a number of small washes near the bottom which forced me to take a 200-yard detour. Once in the timber, I began a walk-stop method of hunting that had paid off for me on Wisconsin deer. A half hour later I had my turkey.

I joined George and his friends at the corral. They hadn't seen a bird.

"I think we could say," I offered wryly, "that Lady Luck must have looked me right in the eye this morning."

"Glad you bagged your bird, A1,n but I must agree that you must have a four-leaf clover, rabbit foot, and lucky horseshoe in your pocket," George answered.

"I know some of these turkey hunters that have been hunting all week and still haven't bagged one." "All there is to it," I added, "is to get out of the truck and walk down the canyon!"

"Lets go eat some breakfast," George laughed, "I can see you'll make a turkey hunter."

Having bagged my turkey on Thursday, I had until Saturday to wait for the opening of deer season so I roamed the country to get better acquainted with the area when it came time to try for my deer.

The more I saw of the Pine Ridge country the more I was intrigued with it. Western history was made

at Fort Robinson, where many of the greats of the Indian wars left their marks. Chiefs Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, Dull Knife, the storied General Custer, and Buffalo Bill passed beneath these towering buttes in the White River Valley.

By Friday afternoon, Crawford and Fort Robinson were beginning to look like a deer hunters' convention. Red suits, hunting boots, campers, and jeeps were everywhere. George suggested that we stop at the fort and see if his hunting party had moved in yet.

"Paul Colburn of Seward has hunted with us at the ranch for a number of years," George informed me. "He has a real good bunch of guys from all over the country and they sure enjoy their deer hunting."

Meeting Paul was like coming face to face with the epitome of hospitality. The big, easy-going insurance executive introduced me to Aage Peterson and Francis Zimmerman of Battle Creek, Nebraska. "Nice to have you along, Al," Paul said. "If the number of hunters in a party has anything to do with success we should be successful."

"We can use a big group," George offered, "as these canyons swallow up deer faster than we can drive them out."

"Here comes a few more of our gang," Paul said, introducing me to his sons, Don and Craig. I also met Paul's brother, Duane, and his son, Chip, from Sac City, Iowa, Tom Darden of Glenview, Illinois, Jim Inzerillo, and Al Minervini both of Scarsdale, New York.

"They have hunted here for three years and are sure sold on Nebraska deer hunting," Paul remarked after the introductions.

"Can't blame them," I answered, "with the hunter success up in the 70 per cent figure."

"In addition," George added, "the hunter can get two permits this year."

"Too bad I didn't know about that," I answered, "as long as I traveled this far I could just as well try for two as one."

"Work on it for next year," Paul grinned. "Tomorrow morning we try for the first one."

Stars winked against a lightening sky the next morning as we gathered at the ranch.

"First off," George said, "we will drop hunters around the oat stubble along the creek. There will be a lot of deer out there feeding and there might just be a buck. Of course, you guys have to make up your own mind as to what you shoot. As you know does are legal and I might add you can't eat the horns."

As first light spilled across the stubble I saw about a dozen deer milling around about 300 yards out.

Using Paul's glasses, I scanned the herd and saw they were all does. Somewhere towards the south end of the field a shot blasted through the silence and the herd bolted for cover. Paul's son and his cousin Chip let the deer cross between them, evidently they wanted a rack.

Loading into the pickups and jeeps we backtracked to the ranch and headed for the top of the buttes on the same road that we had taken for the turkey hunt.

"Two guys to each canyon," George said, dropping us on top. "You have about a mile-square area with plenty of canyons to hunt out. Work it slow. The drivers will pick you up back along the stubble field. Good luck!"

Aage picked the south side of a ridge with me on the north, while Paul and George worked the opposite side of the canyon 500 yards to the north. I stood for a few moments giving all the hunters plenty of time to get set before starting downhill. Shots rang out from the distant hills as other hunters tried for their deer. A flock of pinion Jays winged by, their calls symphonic with the wind whispering through the pines.

Looking down into the canyon I wished strongly for a scope on my rifle. It was fairly open country and the shooting ranges could well be out to 300 yards. I could visualize a big buck jumping in the second-growth pine below me and then reappearing on a sidehill 300 yards away, and me with open sights.

With at least a dozen hunters pushing the deer down the canyons, I chose to walk about 50 yards then sit for five or ten minutes. Staying three quarters of the way up the ridge, I moved slowly and sat often, watching the openings for any sign of movement. A clatter of rock below and to my right drew my attention. Rifle ready, I scanned the shadows— a flash of white caught my eye through the pines, and I picked out a big mule deer doe bounding down the sidehill.

Ten minutes passed as I watched the doe fidget on the opposite hillside, Paul was somewhere above her and she had winded or heard him and wasn't moving until she had him located. Glancing around the canyon I looked for other movement; then I saw the doe bolt and come back towards me with four other deer hot behind her.

They crossed the bottom of the canyon, and came bounding up the sidehill with the doe crossing about 100 yards down the ridge. I tried to spot any sign of a rack as the deer dashed through the trees. Three of the animals were adults, the fourth a yearling. I picked a clearing in the trees and got set to shoot. The yearling, a doe, and then a dark animal burst into the clear for a second, I caught a glimpse of horns, but didn't have time to shoot. Instead of following the first doe they swung to parallel to the ridge and were gone.

Knowing that mule deer have a habit of stopping to look for the source of trouble, I moved quickly down the ridge hoping I could pick them up where and if they paused. I had moved about 300 yards down the hill into a valley and had started up another rise when I saw the deer

TRADING POST

OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the Air

moving ahead of me. Too far out to pick out the rack on the buck I looked for the darker animal of the group as they trotted to the top of the rise. He was last in line. I swung the open sights of the Winchester with the animal, hesitant to try a shot. The blade of the front sight just about covered the animal and I knew the deer was almost 200 yards away.

Loping to the top of the rise, the deer stopped, turned, and looked back at me. Buck or doe I couldn't tell, but I knew it was a deer and a big one. I certainly wanted a buck, but doe was legal game, so remembering George's line, "you can't eat the horns", I decided to try. I pulled the sight down fine just above the deer's shoulder and touched off the .308. A split second after the report I heard the distinct "thunk" of the slug going home. My target made two leaps and disappeared over the rise.

Hiking to the top I saw my animal about 25 yards down the hill. It was a doe!

The deer season was less than three hours old and my permit was filled. I was well pleased with the big doe, but, right then and there I decided one thing for sure. I would come back next year with a scope and field glasses to hunt this country. Open sights and weak eyes are not the equipment to bag a trophy buck. I went along with the other hunters for the rest of the day and again on Sunday. As luck would have it I saw a couple good bucks that would have been easy shooting.

Paul dropped a nice four-point mule deer, and Francis knocked down an antlerless buck. Aage as well as Paul and Francis had two permits and he dropped a doe Sunday morning. Francis and Paul filled out with does.

I left Monday morning but they still had three days to hunt. Later, I learned that the party of 12 hunters bagged 13 deer on 15 permits, nine of the take were bucks.

Leaving Crawford and the Pine Ridge I headed east, hunting pheasant and quail for two days before returning home. My Nebraska hunting tour had been a memorable one. My deer, turkey, pheasant, quail and ducks sure vindicated Nebraska's claim of fine mixed-bag hunting.

DISTRICT TWO

rivers. Both mule deer and whitetails are found in this big Sand Hills area but the mule deer far outnumber the whitetails.

Deer are plentiful and the chance of bagging one is pretty good if you scout the area before hunting for real. Be sure to contact the landowner for permission to check the exact area you will hunt in. Look for deer signs such as trails, watering places, and browsing areas. Get all the additional information you can from your host. While checking the deer area don't forget to check on food, lodging, water, gasoline stations, and road conditions.

On your "Don't Forget" list include such necessities as your permit, your rifle, shells, canteen of water, matches, extra socks, a strong rope, sharp knife, maps, flashlight and batteries for emergencies, an axe or hatchet, shovel, field glasses, compass, extra clothing and a few non-perishable food items. Most of these items will be left in your car or pickup. You will want to hunt as light as possible, but in addition to your gun and ammunition, stow away some matches, your field glasses, knife, and compass. Don't forget that permit and carry a plastic bag for the heart and liver of your big game. A small first aid kit is a real smart item to have in your pocket.

Whether your quarry is deer, antelope, or turkey, your advance preparations will be about the same. For antelope hunting in District Two, the terrain will differ slightly from that favored by mule deer. The long ears prefer more cover than the pronghorns, who find the wide-open spaces more to their liking. Whereas the deer are lacking in the eyesight department and rely more on their senses of hearing and scent, the antelope have twin telescopes mounted where their eyes ought 60 NEBRASKAland to be. This calls for some careful scanning of the countryside through binoculars by the hunter. If he spots pronghorns on the hoof, he will probably have to do a little stalking to get within gunshot.

While many hunters prefer open or peep sights for deer hunting, a good scope is almost a necessity for the white-rumped pronghorns. Rifle calibers for the two species will be much the same. A flat-trajectory bullet of at least 150-grain weight is recommended. A 200-yard shot at a pronghorn is practically point blank.

It is illegal to shoot from motorized vehicles but jeeps and pickups are invaluable for getting deep into the antelope ranges. The best method is to keep below basin rims and glass the countryside ahead before proceeding over the rims. Sometimes pronghorns are spotted from the vehicle and it's a good bet that if you have spotted antelope, they have spotted you. Then it will take every trick in the book to get within range.

A good trick when pronghorns are spotted from a vehicle, is for one hunter to drop out of the vehicle while the other drives on. While the quarry watches the "danger" of the vehicle, the hunter on the ground may be able to circle in for a shot. Antelope have an innate curiosity which sometimes proves their undoing. Spooked pronghorns, unpursued, usually will return to investigate what they thought they saw, and often end up on the trophy wall. There are parts of four antelope management units lying within District Two. These are Cherry, Dismal, Garden, and Brown.

Turkeys are a different proposition. You hunt them close-up with shotguns of from 20 to 10-gauge with the 12-gauge a general favorite. Magnum loads are recommended. You won't find your gobbler sharing the wide open spaces with the pronghorns. He will most likely be deep in some woody draw, along a creek bed, or halfway up a sidehill. You have to be sneaky and above all have patience.

Unexcelled vision and keen hearing, coupled with an uncanny awareness of being hunted, make the wild turkey one of the most difficult of all upland game birds to bag. Playing hide and seek with the big birds is a rare and exciting game. The Niobrara and part of the Verdigre and Lincoln turkey management units lie within District Two.

Wild turkeys are the newest addition to the Nebraska big game hunting scene and provide exciting and different hunting. The turkey stocking program has been so successful in Nebraska that both spring and fall seasons are held. The big Niobrara Unit saw 471 permit holders in the 1965 fall season chalk up a whopping 47.7 per cent success.

Turkeys, like deer and antelope must be checked in at a big-game checking station not later than 8 p.m., of the day following the end of the season. A permit to hunt for deer, antelope, or turkey does not require any sustaining small game hunting permit, but turkey hunters pre required to have on their person a Nebraska Game Bird Stamp which costs a dollar. One thing to remember about checking big game each hunter must check in his own big game in person.

Nearly all of District Two is grouse range with the eastern end of the district running to prairie chicken as opposed to the sharptails found throughout the rest of the area. Normally, the sharptails will be found deep in the Sand Hills. They keep a sharp lookout for approaching shotgun bearers and spook out when they feel the time is right.

Prairie chickens will be found in hay meadows not too far from tilled farmland. Their sentries keep their eye peeled from atop haystacks and other high spots. Nebraska is one of the few states having a huntable population of chickens and hunting them is real sport. It takes a lot of sneaking around, a sharp eye, and a quick trigger to fill the bag with grouse but the effort is worth it. Hunt against the wind as you would on deer, antelope, or turkeys, and keep just below the skyline. Shotguns from 20 through 12 are recommended. No. 6's or 7V2's are the shot ticket.

Pheasants find suitable habitat in District Two also. Work the windbreak or shelterbelt tree plantings, in early morning and late afternoon. Corn and milo fields are always worth a pass, too. Pheasants can be a nice bonus bag after you have stashed away your big game.

If you are hunting District Two in September, the long-term mean temperature is 64.6° for the month but it can get down in the 20's, so dress accordingly. You will need a good pair of comfortable boots, so wear them for a few days for break in. Good items to have along from September on are a pair of light gloves and a cap with ear flaps. In October, the average temperature will drop to 52.7° with lows in the 20's. In November, the mean maximum temperature is 36.8°. The lowest November 1965 temperature was 8°. Long-term mean precipitation for the area runs from 1.76 inches in September down to .61 in November. Having a slicker or other water-resistant outer clothing available is a prime idea.

If you can hit the broad side of a barn, chances are you will connect with whatever game you are after, but take what care is necessary to get your game home in the best possible condition. There are several causes of tainted meat. These include body heat, blood coagulating between muscle tissue, flesh contact with musk glands, or contact with body excreta or intestinal fluids.

Before starting to dress your deer or antelope, it must be decided whether the head and cape are to be saved for trophy use. If they are, the throat must not be cut for bleeding. Any cuts made while dressing a trophy animal should be made so as not to injure the hide around the head or cape. With any specie of deer, the animal should be placed on his back, head uphill if possible. Do not move the carcass any more than necessary.

Next, tie off and remove the genitals, preventing excretions and fluids from coming in contact with the flesh. Make the abdominal incision by lifting the belly meat as high as pbssible with one hand to keep it away from the intestines, then making a downward cut just ahead of the pelvic bone. With the cut started, run two fingers, like a fork, under the abdominal flesh and forward over the intestines, cutting between the fingers with the point of the knife. If the animal is to be a trophy, do not cut further forward than the sternum at the rear of the rib cage.

This done, the intestines will have a tendency to roll toward the rear of the carcass. Reach in forward and cut all around the diaphragm as close to the ribs as possible. It will now be possible to reach in with one arm and take hold of the animal's gullet and windpipe. These are severed as far forward as possible and pulled vigorously backward, stripping out the entire innards backward to the colon. Carefully cut around the colon to remove it intact. It may be removed by pulling it through the pelvic cavity or by splitting the pelvic bone. After the innards are out, remove the heart and liver, then drag the rest of the offal a good distance from the carcass. This will help in leading flies away from the carcass. If possible get the animal off the ground, hanging head up. Prop the carcass open with a stick to help it cool.

Skinning should not be done in the field, as it protects the meat from dirt, and the law requires that all deer or antelope be brought to the check station with head and hide attached. It is a good idea not to pack freshly-killed animals inside the car or trunk unless the lid is left open. Tie the animal across the rear deck or top, propping the carcass open. It is wise to use

cheese cloth that can be fastened on with safety pins over the exposed flesh. This will keep dirt out and will protect the meat from contamination. Next the animal should be taken to a check station to have it officially-sealed. Following this, if the head is to be kept for trophy purposes, roll the carcass on its side and make a single cut from a point just on top of the shoulders up the center line of the neck to a point about two inches behind the antlers. Then, beginning at the withers, make a cut through the hide, downward towards the animal's chest, cutting across the center of the shoulders. Opposing cuts from each side should meet far down on the chest and behind the brisket.

Skin the neck out, rolling the cape forward to a point just behind the skull. Cut and twist the head free and your trophy head and cape are ready for the taxidermist.

Turkeys and small game should be field-dressed as soon as practical after taking. Be sure to leave the head and feet on for identification. Make an incision behind the breast bone, reach in and strip the entrails out. Then stuff the cavity with a handful of clean fresh grass.

District Two is a big land to hunt with plenty of game and lots of scenery. Take time to enjoy it and protect it by being careful of fires, discarded cigarettes, and litter. If you do a bang-up job of hunting and dressing your game and refrain from making your hunting tales too hairy, perhaps the woman in your life will consent to going with you next year to hunt in ''NEBRASKAland where the WEST begins". She'll sure be a big help in shagging out the game.

THE END

ENDOWMENT FOR DUCKS

the field of active sportsmen's agencies to make way for the American Wildlife Institute and Wildlife Management Institute, its successors. The association has retained its charter and continues as a legal entity, primarily for legal reasons. But for 24 years, from 1911 to 1935, during the period said to be the most plastic in America's conservation movements, the A.G.A. exerted a powerful influence and wielded awesome power in the wildlife management field. Such greats in the conservation field as John B. Burnham, Theodore Roosevelt, Seth Gordon, Ray Holland, and Henry van Dyke were in the front line. Until the Izaak Walton League appeared on the American scene, the association was the "sportsmen's voice" of the continent. It is still being heard today thanks to a case that it backed all the way up to the highest court in the land.

It was the famous U.S. Supreme Court case of State of Missouri vs. Holland in 1919 that put real teeth into the Migratory Bird Treaty of that decade. Ray, armed with the new law, got wind of a shady hunting trip which was planned by some high officials of the State of Missouri, and duty-bound, showed up at the scene. The men, caught red-handed, contended the new law did not apply in Missouri. Ray insisted it did, and the U.S. Supreme Court was left to decide. And decide it did, for in the end the attorney general of Missouri was thrown in jail and Ray was thrown out of the state by the maddened brassies, but the validity of the law was decided then and there for all time. This is considered a hallmark in court cases for the conservation cause. It is but one example of the leadership the men of the association provided in guiding early-day conservation down the long and arduous path to sound, wise achievement.

The association, according to Vice-President Seth Gordon, was organized primarily as a central agency through which those interested in wildlife conservation might co-ordinate their efforts. It sponsored the first international wildlife conference in 1915 to discuss national and continental activities as they affected the renewable natural resources.

From the beginning the A.G.A., proceeded on the theory that only through the application of sound scientific principles in game and fish administration, and the maintenance of a suitable habitat, could wildlife be perpetuated in the face of advancing civilization. Membership was limited in the group, and Nebraska's own M. O. Steen, Game Commission director, was an early and dedicated member of the organization.

The money used by the association to purchase wildfowl areas comes from a bank account built up over the years by generous contributors and members of the A.G.A. For many years, the work of the association was underwritten and generously supported by a group of sporting arms and ammunition manufacturers and other outdoor-oriented industries. Now, this money is being funneled into the unique land acquisition program.

A high percentage of the fine waterfowl shooting Nebraska sportsmen enjoy today can be partially attributed to the pioneer efforts of the association in applying the skids to spring hunting seasons and the sale of game.

Gordon says in the August, 1935 issue of American Game, the association's official magazine: "Migratory birds were going from bad to worse in 1911 and the correction of this intolerable situation was a chief incentive behind the formation of the association. At the group's inception, game was sold in the markets of New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and many other large centers. The great natural supply was being drained fast. Then, due in part to the association's energetic campaign against such commercialism, prohibitory laws were placed on federal and state statute books, and wild ducks and geese, prairie chickens, quail and other species disappeared from the markets. The Association played a prominent role in the establishment of the federal 62 NEBRASKAland duck stamp, too. Gordon's pen also notes: "In 1934, the Duck Stamp Act was passed, much in the same form as the association recommended in 1920, except that it provided no funds for public hunting grounds and law enforcement. And from April, 1934 to August, 1935, almost $15,000,000 of public works, emergency conservation, and relief funds were allocated to this work."

Although the American Game Association has carved a niche in the conservation history of North America that can never be erased, others are now bearing the banner for the inimitable crusaders. Gone are the early national leaders like John B. Burnham, George Bird Grimmell, George Shiras, III, John Burroughs, T. C. du Pont, and F. W. Olin. Gone are the warm friendships and the conferences that were shared during the era of the association. But left is its legacy, now carried on by the American Wildlife Institute and Wildlife Management Institute. The ideals and goals of the American Game Association are being proudly and justly borne into a new era of conservation programs. Nebraska is well aware that its American Game Marsh is but one example of the inspiration this group has provided in conservation circles in this nation.

DISTRICT THREE

back of the wagon. The rooster was standing up groggily trying to kick himself under the front seat.

This was a little bit too much. Fred grabbed the pheasant by the head and made like a 30-second whirligig. That did it.

Fortunately all the pheasants in District Three aren't that tough but they are always challenging. The district contains some good pheasant range and gets a heavy play from both resident and nonresident gunners. Close-to-ideal habitat is the reason for the ringnecks' abundance. It is a mixture of idle land, cropland, brush, mature timber, and pasturage. Most of the land is privately owned so sportsmen must have permission to hunt.

District Three is a sizeable hunk of real estate. Its 20 counties are bordered on the east by the Missouri River, on the north by the South Dakota line, and on the south by U. S. Highway 30. It jogs west to include Wheeler and Greeley counties and then cuts back to lay east of northsouth Highway 14.

Terrain is mixed. There are some rugged bluffs that guard the Missouri River, some rolling country in the center, and a spread of draw and canyon-slashed land to the west which gradually climbs into the jumbled Sand Hills. The south fork of the Elkhorn River lazes its way east through the center of the district. Public land is dotted here and there through the district and some of these state-owned areas offer good hunting.

To point to a map and claim that this spot or that one is the best for pheasants is risky forecasting because birds don't read maps and they will congregate where they darn well please. However, experienced hunters will watch for spots where the cover appears right. These areas are not hard to find because improved county roads divide the country into mile-square sections.

Pheasants are the "big" game in District Three but plenty of other birds and animals are waiting. Whitetailed deer are found in each of the 20 counties but the biggest concentrations are relatively well localized in the Missouri, Elkhorn, Loup, and Platte river valleys. Good bucks also hang out in the wooded tributaries of these rivers. Still-hunting and sit-and-wait are the accepted methods of filling the tags. Open country between the valleys will yield an occasional mule deer but the year-to-year harvest is predominately whitetail. Ranges are generally short and shots are the "quick" variety so the old reliable .30-30, .32 Special, and the .35 Remington are good rifle choices. White-tailed deer are seldom far from cover and the bigger they get the closer to protection they stay.

District Three's Deer Management Units include the Elkhorn, Missouri, and portions of the Calamus, Wahoo, Omaha and Loup units. In 1965, deer hunting success in the Missouri and Elkhorn units was a hair over 75 per cent.

Antelope are found in parts of Wheeler County but these are fringe areas for the pronghorns. Observers estimate the population at 50 head.

This fall, turkey hunters will have a brand new unit in District Three. The Commission has authorized 50 permits for the Verdigre Unit located in Knox and Antelope counties. Merriam's are the targets and both hens and gobblers are legal. Shooting hours for archers and gunners are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sundown. The season runs from October 29 through November 6. It's "scatterguns only" for the gun toters and gauges must be no bigger than 10 and no smaller than 20. Hunters must be at least 16 before the season opens.

Pheasant hunters who strike it rich with quick limits needn't hang up the shotguns and grouse about being too lucky. There is some fine quail hunting in the drainage systems. District Three bobs are well able to care for themselves. They frequent the timbered areas and as any quail hunter can tell you bobwhites among the trees aren't the easiest targets in the world. And there are always rabbits and squirrels to top off a good day.

Waterfowl hunting runs from great to fair in northeastern Nebraska. Geese funnel down the Missouri River beginning in early October to offer great shooting. Sandbars along the river attract and hold snows, blues, and lesser Canadas by the thousands when conditions are right. Experienced hunters lure the birds in with cleverly placed decoys and seductive calling. Hunters can almost pinpoint the arrival of the geese by studying the weather reports from the north. The rougher the weather, the better the hunting. The smaller rivers and their feeder creeks of the district also offer some goose shooting. Ducks, too, ride the skyway of the Missouri and peel off into the tributaries and sloughs. Sneak hunting is a sporting method of getting close to out-of-the-way webfeet.

Portions of Wheeler, Holt, and Boone counties have a fair supply of prairie chickens and sharp-tailed grouse, with the chickens having an edge in numbers. The area from O'Neill, south to Bartlett, is recommended, but there is some gunning for the boomers farther east. A mixture of cropland and grassland is always worth a check by grouse-hungry gunners.

Hunters coming into the district for the early days of this pheasant season will find the cover a little thinner than in previous years because of the dry spring. Yet, there'll be enough to protect the canny roosters from over exposure. Crops, mostly corn and milo, will be 40 per cent harvested by the last week in October and about 75 per cent harvested by the end of the first week in November. Before the eleventh month is half gone, most of the harvest will be done and the birds pushed into still-standing cover.

As the season wears on, pheasants will have a tendency to bunch up in brush patches, weed fields, and soil banks. They will never come easy for the ringneck is no fool and given a one-in-ten chance, he'll do his best to outwit the hunter.

Scattered patches of sandburs will plague dogs in the early part of the season but this nuisance will taper off as the weather gets in its work. Boots will protect tender-pawed canines from these prickly menaces. The gunner should watch his own footgear while upland hunting, for the hills are steep and the valleys deep. Well-broken-in boots and a pair of cushioned-soled socks are big helps for Nebraska's miles are country long.

Weather will range from downright hot to doggone cold during the season so hunters should be prepared for both extremes. Prolonged rainy spells are not likely but a gulley washer can blow up at any time. If a good storm hits, beware of dirt roads, they can turn into sticky gumbo at the fall of a raindrop. It will probably be well along in November before District Three gets its first measurable snowfall but snow can come any time.

District No. 3 is the keystone in Nebraska's claim as the mixed-bag capital of the nation and sportsmen who give the area an honest hunt won't come away disappointed.

One final tip. When you shoot pheasants in District Three, be sure they are "dead" dead before you toss them in the car.

THE END

DISTRICT ONE

in the nation and some of the most outstanding scenery in Nebraska.

The district begins its southward sweep with the sprawl of the Oglala National Grasslands across its northern border. Like most federal lands, the grasslands is open to public hunting. And as Nebraska's northwest boasts the state's largest antelope population, the grasslands are one of their favorite hangouts. Big-game gunners can also try their luck on deer and turkey here.

Access to this region is easy because of its flat terrain. Even the family car is good transportation here. But in the north country, winter can set in over night. A hunter in the area should be prepared for just about everything from shirt-sleeve temperatures to howling northers.

South of the grasslands, the Pine Ridge juts from the prairie to take over where the flatlands leave off. A veritable carpet of Ponderosa pine, the Ridge is a maze of dry washes and steep slopes, but when it comes to game the Pine Ridge has it. It's no wonder that hunters throng into Ridge country, for this is the Golden Boy of District One. Mule deer run the Ridge like they own it. And well they might, for only a sprinkling of whitetails are around to challenge their authority. Turkey is another of the area's drawing cards. This is where the gobblers were first reintroduced into Nebraska and they have found the region much to their liking. With ever-expanding flocks to hunt, bagging success is high.

Deer success in the Ridge is excellent, too. In 1965, 3,500 permits were issued for the region, with 79 per cent of the hunters racking up full cards. Archers, too, find the area ideal for bringing home the vension. Of the archery permits issued for 1965, about 20 per cent of all the bow benders hit for the Pine Ridge and came out with 23 kills.

Ridge hunting is not for the weak of heart, however. It's rugged and it's high. Two characteristics should be taken into consideration by hunters who spend too much of the year behind a desk or in front of the living room T.V. The best inroads are foot paths, and the modes of travel are limited to two or four-footed varieties. Though it is breathtakingly beautiful, Ridge hunting can also mean a lot of good hard work, with weaker candidates falling by the wayside. Weather can also be severe in the Ridge, and hunters should be ready to cope with anything.

South of the Pine Ridge, the land again levels into prairie. Here the pheasant is king. But there are a lot of hunters who are more than happy to dethrone the monarch and pack him home in the game bag. Ringnecks have plenty of room to maneuver in this area with wheat, corn, and milo fields providing lots of wide-open spaces and fattening diets for the Chinese imports Though this is farm land, hunters have little trouble finding birds in the field because of early harvest dates. All wheat is in by the kick off of pheasant season, while milo and corn are stashed away by November. These dates apply to the entire district.

Undergrowth may cause some problems for hunters working without dogs, but should not detract from too many hunts. One region around Hemmingford has picked up the name of Mirage Flats because its clear atmosphere seems to place points much nearer than they actually are. While towns and geological features may actually be optical illusions, the pheasants in the area certainly are not.

To round out a full card of varied species, an extension of Nebraska's famed Sand Hills sweeps out of the east to provide grouse gunning.

In the western portion of the district, Peterson Special Use Area serves up some mighty good hunting. Here, and at Gilbert Baker Special Use Area, just to the north, deer and turkey hunting keep shooters busy and happy. Both areas are state-owned and are open to public hunting.

In the east-central, waterfowl shooting takes on an added flare. Sand Hills' lakes and potholes dot the area, luring huge flights of webfeet earthward during their migratory jaunts. Many of these watery areas are state-owned and are open to the public. But others are private lakes and hunting permission must be obtained before attempting to reap their winged harvest. Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge, also located in the area, is an excellent place for sightseers to feast their eyes on hordes of waterfowl. The majority of the refuge is closed to webfoot gunning. However, special areas of the sanctuary 64 NEBRASKAland are open to the public for hunting. Contact with the refuge will provide information on open areas and season dates.

Slashing across the district from midway down the western edge is the North Platte River which divides the district into two sections. The northern section is the largest. Near the upper reaches of the North Platte, the Wildcat Hills turn a gentle landscape into a colorful wilderness. The hills are unique in that they probably offer the plushest hunting in the state. From almost any point in the field, motels or hotels and restaurants are only minutes away. The Wildcats surround the cities of Scottsbluff and Gering, both willing and able to take the outdoorness out of the outdoors.

Close to civilization or not, the area is still a hunting hot spot. Deer make the hills their home and many a fine buck has met his end just a few miles from a city's concrete canyons. Turkey have also been released in the area, but presently they do not provide as good hunting as in the Pine Ridge.

Further down the river, ringnecks are again up for grabs. Waterfowl make a handy supplement, with rocketing quail adding their special zing to the shooting. A portion of the watercourse around Oshkosh and Lewellen is set aside as a preserve. Its boundaries are well marked and hunters should avoid working its restricted areas. Non-preserve sections of the river make for good waterfowl and quail gunning. And, it is not uncommon to be able to nail an antelope or deer just a few yards from cover that supports fair quail populations. Even the upper end of Lake McConaughy gets into the act in District One. The largest water impoundment in the state, "Big Mac" is a good bet for waterfowl shooting that sometimes borders on the fantastic. From canvasbacks to honkers, waterfowl find it hard to pass up this sizeable chunk of water.

South of the river, in the west, the Cheyenne Escarpment thrusts its rugged form above the rolling plains around Harrisburg. A miniature version of the Wildcat Hills, the escarpment provides some deer and antelope. Pheasants are available in the surrounding area.

South of Harrisburg, the land levels out once again and rolling country is the order of the day all the way to Colorado's northern border.

Most hunters have long since settled on firearms for their foray into Nebraska's Big Country. But for those still contemplating, a flat-shooting outfit with a 4X or 6X telescopic sight is recommended for flatland gunning. Wooded areas often call for a gun that is more maneuverable in tight places. A .30/30 carbine or similar piece should fill the bill here. Shotgunners of course have a wide selection to choose from. For them it is more important to pick the gun that fits. There is no sense in using a scattergun that makes little blue marks on the shoulder at every shot.

Clothing is pretty much a matter of personal preference. However, it should be remembered that anything can happen in the weather department so it is best to be prepared for it.

District One is by no means the only hunting area in Nebraska, but it is one of the best. Each of the others has its own claim to fame and all are sure to draw a flock of gunners. But for sheer excitement on Nebraska's hunting scene, the state's great northwest is hard to beat.

BONUS HUNTING

easy circles along a field's edge as he often does, or perched on a fence post.

In the western part of the state, the Swainson's hawk is a familiar sight. This rusty-breasted predator frequents the open prairie land where he builds his nest in shrubs or trees.

The American rough-legged and the marsh hawk are quite similar. The marsh hawk can be distinguished from the rough-legged by a narrower tail and more slender wings. A marsh hawk's flight is light and free while the American rough-legged hawk hovers over one spot. A deer or grouse hunter has a good chance of seeing them in central Nebraska's Sand Hills.

Sparrow hawks are actually members of the falcon family. These colorful hawks are identifiable to hunters by their "killee-killee-killee" whistles. Nesting state-wide in large woodpecker holes and natural cavities in trees, this small beauty is a delight to watch.

An extra special thrill may be in store for visiting hunters in the Lake McConaughy area, for here are located fair populations of both golden and bald eagles. Generally, the range of the golden extends over the western panhandle, but the bald is primarily a winter visitor. Probably the largest concentration of balds can be found at Jeffrey Reservoir near Brady.

Two of Nebraska's predacious owls are a good example of differentiation of habits within the species. The great horned owl is more active by day than others so eastern Nebraska hunters stand a good chance of seeing this fierce predator perched on a ledge or in a tree. He often occupies abandoned hawk nests. By comparison, the nocturnal burrowing owl ranges the western two-thirds of the state. A deer hunter is apt to be startled this fall when one of these unorthodox creatures retreats into a prairie dog burrow, instead of flying.

Turkey vultures are found in fair concentrations along the northern border, from Lewis and Clark Lake westward, up the Niobrara and Snake rivers to Merritt Reservoir. Nests are located on rocky ledges, in fire-burned stumps, or in hollow trees. Hunters may be tempted to destroy him but he should be protected because of the great service he renders by the removal of carrion.

One of the largest groups of Nebraska's feathered tribes is the shore

birds. Some of the more common are the willets, the curlews, and yellowlegs. Sand Hills' lakes, the rain-basin area, and Platte River sandbars are typical places to keep an eye out for these look-alike wetbacks. Curlews have a long sickle bill that makes identification easy. Willets and yellow-legs lack this distinguishing characteristic but they are similar in size. Waterfowl hunters should be able to recognize these non-legals to avoid confusion with game birds. To the unknowing, it can be difficult. For instance, the dowitcher, a small nervous bird, looks very much like a snipe but there are differences. The darker rump and breast of the snipe are good distinguishers for a hunter. Also, snipe do not flock up like dowitchers. Snipe are usually found in grassy areas around a lake or marsh whereas the dowitchers are more likely to be found bobbing their heads in a sewing-machine motion on mud flats or in shallow water.

Killdeers and the upland plover are shore birds that are also at home in field and prairie. In fact, the latter, which is not a true plover, prefers upland prairie conditions over the reedy swales and alkaline marshes of avocets, gulls, and other related species.

Bitterns are one of the heron-like waders, but hunters will find them unique examples of "protective resemblance". The streaks and speckles of the bittern's body blend so perfectly with the background of his marshy habitat that he is extremely difficult to spot from his surroundings, even though he is almost as big as a barnyard fowl.

Another resident of the Sand Hills is the shy pied-billed grebe. This now-you-see-him-now-you-don't bird is exceedingly adept at diving, and leaves hardly a ripple when he goes under. These long, sharp-billed fishermen out-number other types of feathered water lovers and are common sights.

Game birds seldom confuse the sportsman, but scaled quail in the southwestern corner of the state, or chukars just north of there, may be a new and exciting observation for a hunter in the Panhandle area.

Many of Nebraska's upland birds can be seen on just about every hunt. In the western two-thirds of the state, the magpie is a predominant specie. This sport model -"crow" of the plateau country is widely persecuted but he rapidly repopulates when checks are removed. The cheerful red-winged blackbird is common throughout Nebraska. He prefers a wet habitat, nesting in low bushes or marsh grasses around lakes, areas of river overflow, and large stock ponds.

The western meadowlark is Nebraska's state bird. His welcome song and trim appearance are reasons enough to honor him but he also pays his way as an insect exterminator.

Keep your eyes open when you come to NEBRASKAland this fall and your hunt will be much more enjoyable. If your shooting doesn't impress your friends, your skill in identifying the birds and mammals will.

Knight Museum, Johnson Lake

WHERE-TO-GO

IT WAS JUNE 27, 1965, in Alliance, and all of the planning, hard work, and hardships experienced by Box Butte County historians and residents were about to pay off. It was 27 years since a flood hit the Alliance City Park and washed away the town's first museum, a "soddy" built to resemble the early originals. Since that summer of 1938, no permanent structure had existed to house the many historic items in circulation that were badly in need of a show place.

Now, as the master of ceremonies at the formal dedication of the new Knight Museum stepped up to greet the huge audience, the moment had arrived when once again, Alliance's history had a home. Knight Museum was at last a reality. After a quarter of a century of dreaming, its doors were open.

Today, this museum is a top tourist attraction along the exciting NEBRASKAland Trail, because it is truly one of a kind, and because it represents the spirit of a closely-knit community.

Visitors to the museum enter a masonry, fireproof building which sprawls over 5,760 square feet of the town's beautiful city park. This dream-come-true was constructed at a cost of $42,250 and represents more than two decades of fund raising and plan drafting. Even the Burlington Railroad is partially responsible for the museum's success, since it placed a 1903 locomotive near the park, at Third and Flack streets.

A full-time curator is employed by the city of Alliance to work in the museum and to guide tourists through the building. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays. Season dates are from May 1 to November 1. The museum carries the name of the late Frank M. Knight who contributed $15,000 to the project.

Some of the more popular items on display include an old spinning wheel of 1814 vintage, a collection of dolls which depict the dress of Nebraska's first ladies, an old-time music box, and a collection of paintings which reflect Box Butte County scenes.

Other items to be seen are several colorful rock exhibits, a bird exhibit, a rare display of Indian artifacts, a pioneer's marriage proposal written on a valentine, several buggies, and a number of dioramas which have intriguing, moving parts. The dioramas are a favorite with the children, fascinating the younger set with two Indians, an old prospector, a windmill, and animals that move different directions inside their own respective, three-dimensional sets.

At the plink of a penny, the music box will swing into action, cranking out an old-time favorite melody from a revolving metal record. The bird exhibits in the museum are gifts from C. E. McCafferty, a former county school superintendent. The well-known Agate Fossil Beds in nearby Sioux County are well represented by samples of prehistoric animal skeletons which are frequently found at the National Monument.

Military history plays a prominent part in the story of yesterday in the area, and museum founders haven't forgotten this fact. The first display visible upon entering the building is that of an 1870 U. S. Cavalryman and his mount, both displaying authentic gear and drapery of their famous era.

Indian artifacts and related, unusual items draw their share of visitors to the history house in the park. Arrow-heads, beads, tools, cooking utensils, and clothes all excite the imagination to help envision the era when the Indian ruled the Plains.

A 1966 addition to the museum is a section housing four rooms, all furnished as they appeared in the years between 1870 and 1895.

History does not have a singular claim to producing outstanding attractions. Seven miles south of Lexington on U. S. Highway 283 is a 2,800-acre reservoir which is known state-wide as a consistent big-fish producer and water skier's haven. This is Johnson Lake, a State Recreation Area. Johnson's rich waters teem with great schools of walleye, white bass, and crappie, while the catfishing is par excellence. The walleye action repeatedly raises eyebrows when 10-pound lunkers are hoisted aboard.

Like all of its sister impoundments sprawled out in the Platte River Valley, Johnson offers thrill-a-minute action in other areas besides fishing. Water skiing rides a high seat of excitement each summer, primarily because of the miles of warm, sandy beaches and number of boat docks. Swimmers, too, know that when the sun climbs high in the sky, it takes almost no time for the clear waters to warm. The frosting on the cake for this area, to many people, is its handiness. Its central location draws outdoor buffs from all directions.