NEBRASKAland
Special Hunting Issue
September 1973 50 cents ICD 08615
Speak up
ThanksSir / Thank you for an excellent magazine which, for Nebraskans (there are no "former" Big Red fans), is a most welcome guest each month.
R. J. Blust Moab, Utah Mid-State RevivalSir / I would like to strongly voice my opposition to the Mid-State irrigation project.
I have seen and studied the plans and paperwork and have found out that this project will be too costly, unnecessary and morally wrong.
By being too costly, I mean the farmer and user can pump water cheaper than Mid-State can supply it.
By being unnecessary, I mean we have plenty of water for irrigation and with proper faith in God we will always have enough water for every need.
By being immoral, I mean this project, through man's destructive ways, will destroy too much wildlife habitat. It will hurt the property owner by carving up real estate for unwanted canals, ditches and dams.
George W. Stoppkotte Grand Island, Nebraska Pond LifeSir / The July issue of NEBRASKAland is superb —beautifully compiled. How much patience it must have taken to have waited for just the right second to get the exquisite photographs.
The article on Pond Life is a classic. I'll share this issue but insist that it be returned.
Mrs. Fred Gompert Mitchell, Nebraska (Continued on page 6)
NEBRASKAland
VOL. 51 / NO. 9 / SEPTEMBER 1973 Published monthly by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Fifty cents per copy. Subscription rates $3 for one year, $6 for two years. Send subscription orders to NEBRASKAland, Box 30370, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503. commission Chairman: William G. Lindeken, Chadron Northwest District, (308) 432-3755 Vice Chairman: Gerald R. Campbell, Ravenna South-central District, (308) 452-3800 Second Vice Chairman: James W. McNair, Imperial Southwest District, (308) 882-4425 Jack D. Obbink, Lincoln Southeast District, (402) 488-3862 Arthur D. Brown, Omaha Douglas-Sarpy District, (402) 553-9625 Kenneth R. Zimmerman, Loup City North-central District, (308) 745-1694 Don O. Bridge, Norfolk Northeast District, (402) 371-1473 Director: Willard R. Barbee Assistant Director: William J. Bailey, Jr. Assistant Director: Richard J. Spady staff Editor: Lowell Johnson Editorial Assistants: Ken Bouc, Jon Farrar, Faye Musil Photography: Greg Beaumont, Bob Grier Layout Design: Michele Angle Illustration: C. G. Pritchard Advertising: Cliff Griffin Circulation: Juanita Stefkovich Copyright Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 1973. All rights reserved. Postmaster: if undeliverable, send notice by form 3579 to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Box 30370, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503. Second class postage paid at Lincoln, Nebraska Travel articles financially supported by Department of Economic Development Ronald J. Merteus, Depty Director John Rosenow, Tourism and Travel Director Contents FEATURES PRONGHORNS AND GROUSE 10 WHERE DUCKS COME FROM . HUNTER-LANDOWNER DILEMMA FOR GEESE AND HUNTER . 16 18 20 IN DEFENSE OF HUNTING 22 YOUNG HUNTER TRAINING PROGRAM 24 SEASON OF PLENTY CHRONICLE OF HUNTING PUBLIC HUNTING AREAS 26 36 42 DEPARTMENTS SPEAK UP FOR THE RECORD WHAT TO DO TRADING POST 3 9 50 57 COVER: This pair of pintails by C. G. "Bud" Pritchard is one of the works included in two new Wildlife Portfolios now available. Each contains six selections. No. 1 features Pritchard's songbirds, while No. 2 includes some of his favorite faunas. OPPOSITE: Long-tailed weasel on the lookout. Photograph by Jon Farrar
SPEAK UP
(Continued from page 3) Decoupaged WildlifeSir / I am an avid collector of NEBRASKA land. The photography is so colorful and Mr. Pritchard's animals and birds are beautiful.
I have been making wall plaques for some time and have wanted to use some pictures from your magazine to sell, made up on wall plaques and also decoupaged on wood. Is it possible to get permission to do this? The pictures come off beautifully and would be great as a souvenir.
The portraits of the Indian Chiefs look really majestic on a plaster plaque with the print crackled and stained to look very old.
I am also interested in knowing if you still sell the prints that you once did. I have seen them advertised in some of your magazines of a few years ago but can't find a recent one.
Dorothea M. Curd Chadron, NebraskaThe stock of wildlife prints you referred to have been depleted for several years. However, we now have available two portfolios of prints of Bud Pritchard's fauna. Each portfolio contains 6 prints and sells for $5. Portfolio #7 contains the series of winter songbirds carried in the December 1970 NEBRASKAland. Portfolio #2 contains a selection of Mr. Pritchard's favorite faunas, including pintails and bobwhites. Editor
NEBRASKAland in North CarolinaSir / For the past several years my family has been the recipient of NEBRASKAland, a gift from Fred Gebers, USMC retired, in Gering.
We have clipped many articles and pictures over the years. My wife has used them in classroom displays and I have used them in bulletin board work in my church. The uniformly high quality of your publication is most commendable.
Thank you for what you are doing. I just wanted you to know that some friends far away are deeply appreciative.
T. C. Plexico Concord, North Carolina Eagle CountingSir / After waiting almost three months, I will finally write. We enjoy the NEBRASKAland Magazine, and find most of the articles very interesting. In February we took Interstate 80 to North Platte with our grandchildren, and on the way we counted fourteen bald eagles and on our return home to Aurora, the same day, we counted eleven sitting in trees along the Platte River near Lexington and west.
Mrs. Clifford Scherff Aurora, Nebraska
CRAWFORD...
RIMROCK RECREATION RANCH
OGLALA NATIONAL FOREST
FEDERAL FISH HATCHERY
TOADSTOOL PARK
MJ|EY CANYON
€Nl ROBINSON
BADLANDS
HUDSON-MENG BISON SITE
SIDNEY-DEADWOOD TRAIL
STAGECOACH ROUTE
WHITNEY LAKE
TREATY TREE
AGATE FOSSIL B.EDS
RED CLOUD AGENCY
WHITE RIVER
GHOST TOWN
CROW BUTTE
BUTTE RESERVOR
SIDNEY-DEADWOOD TRAIL
NEBRASKA NATIONAL FOREST
ATE'S ONLY RAILROAD TUNNEL
FOR CIRCLE TOUR INFORMATION ON NEBRASKA'S MOST SCENIC SPOT FOR
FISHING, VACATIONING, SIGHTSEEING OR JUST PLAIN LIVING, WRITE:
CRAWFORD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, CRAWFORD, NEBRASKA 69339
for the Record
Landowner Tolerance
Comments that come into the Game and Parks Commission are often from the outdoor enthusiasts who have had some bad experiences or complaints to voice, but last hunting season a hunter stopped by the office and paid quite a tribute to a rancher he had met in the Sandhills. The hunter had stopped by a ranch to get permission to hunt grouse. He didn't know the rancher, but was warmly greeted and told that he was welcome to hunt. In driving to the part of the ranch where he was going to hunt, he became mired in loose sand. He walked back to the rancher and explained his plight. The rancher chuckled and put down the tools he was using, then got a tractor, and pulled the car out. The hunter offered to pay for having his car freed from the sand, but the rancher refused, simply saying, "No thanks, just return the favor to the next fellow who needs a hand."
This incident illustrates the limits to which some farmers and ranchers are willing to go in allowing hunting on their land. Nebraska is endowed with very little publicly owned land —in fact, about 97 percent is in private ownership. As a result, every game management program adopted by the Game and Parks Commission depends on the private farming and ranching segment for its success. The landowners are keys both in the production and harvest of the state's wildlife resource.
In game management, an unchecked big-game population is capable of building to very high numbers. Deer and antelope can become an economic burden and downright nuisance to the land owner when they become too numerous. Both state law and the Game and Parks Commission's management objectives clearly state the responsibility of keeping the deer and antelope populations from becoming a burden to the landowner. One factor be comes of prime consideration each year when the hunting seasons are set —will the number and type of permits authorized be adequate to keep the herds within the economic tolerance of land owners?
It is somewhat of a paradox that under the Constitution, wild life belongs to all the people, yet much of it occurs on private lands. Therefore, the utilization of the wild animals depends to a large degree on the willingness of farmers and ranchers to grant access to the land.
Pronghorns and Grouse
As the prairie turned black behind the plow, wild game diminished. Through sound management, hunters today know a renewed abundance
IF GAME managers classified animals the same as range managers classify plants, prairie grouse and pronghorns would probably be labeled decreases, much the same as desirable native grasses that diminish under man's use of the land. Once grouse and pronghorns flourished across all of Nebraska. As the prairie turned black behind the plow the pronghorn's range shrunk to the northwest corner of the state while sharptail and prairie chicken populations made a stronghold in the sandhills. As modern technology found more ways to farm previously untillable land, grouse range continued to shrink except in remote parts of the prairie. Pronghorns faired less well. Only through transplants have antelope regained part of their former range. Still, Von Gertsch of Monroe and Paul Mitchell of Anselmo found a plentiful supply of both grouse and pronghorns awaited the sunrise opener of the 1972 antelope season and the second weekend of Nebraska grouse hunting.
By moonlight, Paul and Von crawled onto haystacks in a lowland meadow northwest of Anselmo. For weeks Paul had kept tabs on a strapping buck and his harem of does and kids that frequented the meadow's native grasses. The band customarily filed out of the hills at daybreak, fed, and made their day beds near the stacks. Only a week earlier Paul had bellied within 15 yards of the bedded buck. If the
10 NEBRASKAland SEPTEMBER 1973 11
During the late 1950s and early 1960s,
over one thousand pronghorns were transplanted
in the sandhills. In recent years
hunters have harvested their offspring
herd followed its usual regime they should pass with in 100 yards of one of the hunters. A full moon dropped from sight as the sun turned a western cloud bank pinkish-blue. For an hour and a half they waited.
For the first time in weeks the herd broke its established schedule. Paul finally slid from the stack and headed back to meet Von at the pickup. For some unknown reason the antelope band had held up in the choppies to the south. White rump patches flashed in the early morning sun as Von glassed them from the area's highest ridge. Mentally, Von marked the herd —three-quarters of a mile down the valley, and over three ridges from the hereford dozing on the hilltop. At the hereford ridge they split, Von to the east, Paul to the west, and then topped out.
Before Paul had located the herd, Von's shot cut the morning calm. Paul had hunted with Von enough to know that his one shot meant a cancelled license. He also knew the chances of two bucks being in the same herd during rut were remote. Even so, he ran to the top of the ridge and scoped the retreating herd as it poured fluidly over the grasslands.
When Von eased over the ridge the entire herd had been only 150 yards below him, some browsing, others bedded down. His one shot dropped the buck cleanly. The trophy Paul had nursed along for weeks now sported Von's tag.
The large number of does in the band helped explain why the buck had missed his regular rounds. Only a day before, his harem had been but a handful, and now it numbered close to 20. What battles he had waged to win the new prizes would never be known.
Rough measurements put the antelope's horns at 15 or 16 inches around the curve, but the base circumference was not especially large —an important consideration if a head is to score high.
By 1900, pronghorns had been virtually eliminated from the sandhill region of Nebraska. The herd Von had taken his buck from was probably made up of descendants of animals trapped in northwest Nebraska and transplanted in the late 1950's and early 1960's by the Game and Parks Commission. During a four-year period, 1,077 pronghorns were released in the sandhills. Over Vh million acres, or roughly 13 percent of the total sandhill region, was committed to their reintroduction under a cooperating agreement with landowners. The northwest corner of Custer county, near where Von and Paul were hunting, had received 17 males and 40 females during one of those transplants. In recent years, herds have expanded their range and grown larger and more vigorous. Had the original transplants not been made, reclaiming of the sandhill region could have taken years, if it ever occurred at all.
With Von's buck hung to cool, Paul nosed the pickup north onto the Cooksley ranch. The ranch's 23 sections represent an assemblage of smaller ranches established under the Homestead Act and later abandoned. Those early settlers were quick to learn the prairie's bitter lesson-sandhill grassland could not co-exist with the plow, and 160 acres of pasture could not support a hungry family. Now those ranches are pastures bearing the homesteaders' names. Windmills and cottonwood clusters stand as monuments to mark the pioneer's brief stay.
A small buck had been gathering females in the Gilligan pasture and watering at the windmill there. During any given week, Paul covered the entire ranch, mostly on horseback, some by pickup. After more than a year of working on the ranch, he had grown to know every band of pronghorns and where they called home. He knew there wasn't another buck as large as Von's anywhere on the ranch-that is except for the old timer that frequented Steel Well pasture. The mammoth horns crowning that buck testified to the wisdom of his ways. Paul and the buck had met many times. Unlike other antelope, curious enough to let people come fairly close, the Steel Well buck had the uncanny habit of pouring on the coals in the opposite direction of any onlookers, be they half a mile away or beyond. The buck's only interest in people was that many miles and hills were between them.
Perhaps that is why Paul never considered look ing for the old fellow. Perhaps, too, that is why Paul just stared in wonderment when the pickup dropped over a hill crest and the heavy horned buck stood
with three does only 250 yards away. Caught closer to man than Paul had known to happen before, the buck hadn't changed his habit of putting plenty of ground between them, and looking later. By the time Paul bailed out of the pickup and planted himself firmly in the sand, the heavy bodied male had easily outdistanced the lighter does. A snap shot spurred the sand harmlessly 10 feet behind as he dropped over a ridge.
From the next high point Paul and Von watched the buck and his harem increase the miles between them. From the last ridge they saw the buck cross, Paul started off on foot, confident that he would never get close enough for a shot or probably even see the old timer again. Von drove to the next pasture and uncased his smoothbore for grouse.
The Cooksley ranch is an oddity of sorts. Steve Cooksley moved to the ranch 27 years ago and made it into what it is today. That in itself is not out of the ordinary, as many men have started from little and built impressive spreads. The sacred respect Steve holds for the land is what sets the ranch apart from most. Though the ranch probably could support many more animal units than it currently does, Cooksley has refused to abuse the land for a short-term gain. Luxuriant stands of native grasses reflect the concern lavished on the ranch.
Von had little trouble filling his two-bird limit. One he dropped from a flock rise, and a second from three birds that drifted over a series of swales and sat down.
Three miles from where Paul started his stalk, Von spotted his semaphoring orange vest. Paul never sighted the old buck again, which was probably in Loup County by then.
His system purged of all hope of approaching the old monarch, Paul climbed back aboard the pickup. Still a mile from the Gilligan windmill, the hunters jumped a respectable buck ardently defending his doe from a runty but rutting male. At the sight of the pickup, all headed northeast toward the windmill. Hoping to circle ahead of the spooked pronghorns and stalk back to where the two bucks would undoubtably continue their disagreement, the pickup dawdled along as if on routine ranch business. Once at the windmill, Paul baled out and began what he expected to be another long stalk.
Barely to the top of a sandy trail, leading from a ridge down to the watering tank, two doe appeared on a ridge opposite the basin below Paul. As the does dropped into the bottom, the youngster buck charged down the hill, hotly pursued by the larger male. Once in the bottom the foursome settled down, the does to browse nonchalantly and the males to take a breather before settling their differences. Paul's stalk had been cut to a meager 200 yards.
His belly sliding down a sandy cowtrail, Paul closed the distance, hoping for a closer look at the buck. He was respectable enough, but not trophy material. Before creeping those fifty yards over a carpet of bristly sandburs, he had convinced himself to wait and hunt more during the week, even though the chances of finding a larger buck were slim. Those 50 yards of squirming must have raised the buck's trophy value measurably. When the larger buck continued pursuit of the smaller one, Paul's '06 made the decision. Any sign of a hit wasn't evident. A second round puffed a spray of sand skyward behind the fleeing buck. As Paul chambered a third round the buck dropped, a full hundred yards from where the first shot had severed the heart. The stalk was a memorable one.
With the buck field dressed, Von and Paul headed back to the ranch to hang the animal. A flock of sharptails filing across the trail brought the pickup to a quick stop, though.
Within 150 yards, the flock flushed. While retrieving a fallen grouse from his first shot, a straggler made a tardy decision to join the others, and filled Paul's limit.
Through competent management techniques by game agencies and concerned landowners, wildlife as well as livestock has thrived in the sandhills. When man realizes the rewards of long-term planning, the future of wildlife and hunting all over the country will be more promising.
Paul glanced at his watch as they pulled into the ranch. It was 11:00 a.m.
where ducks come from
Nebraska is dependent on northern-reared birds, and a dry spring has curtailed production there
EVERYONE knows that ducks migrate to northern breeding grounds in the spring and to warmer climates for the winter. What people sometimes forget is that there must be sufficient water up north for the birds to nest and bring off their broods.
There is a direct relationship between the size of fall duck populations and northern slough and pothole areas available for spring brooding. In other words, if you want ducks, you must have sloughs full of water.
During recent years, most waterfowl populations have undergone a steady decline because of increased drain age of breeding habitat for agricultural purposes. This year, in addition to man-created problems, waterfowl have been dealt a severe blow by Mother Nature. Unlike the wet spring in much of Nebraska, the bulk of the prime northern breeding grounds are extremely dry.
The prairie potholes are the backbone of duck populations in North America. Ninety percent of all ducks are produced in the northern portion of the North American continent, with the highly productive prairie-pothole region of North Dakota, South Dakota, and the prairie provinces alone producing 50 percent of all ducks. When these areas in North and South Dakota and the Canadian provinces are filled with water, duck production will generally be good and waterfowlers in Nebraska are almost assured of good fall flights.
A mild winter, with below-average snowfall, contributed to the extremely low spring water levels this year. This critical water shortage has had a drastic effect on duck production in the prairie-pothole region.
From May and June surveys in North Dakota, biologists found available breeding habitat down 70 percent from last year. Habitat conditions in other parts of the pothole region were described as similar. Breeding pairs had decreased by 40 percent. Concentration of the breeding pairs occurred on large water areas which had no breeding habitat available. Presumably there will therefore be very little production from these birds this year, and most indicators point to a year of below-average duck populations.
The last major dry cycle in the prairie potholes occurred in the late 1950's and early 1960's. The conditions that exist now in the pothole region are being compared to those in 1961.
During the last dry cycle, production was very low due to limited breeding habitat. Breeding populations, of course, decreased rapidly and harvest exceeded production. As a result, severely restricted seasons were necessarily adopted to maintain holdover populations until water supplies were replenished and habitat conditions improved.
For example, mallard numbers decreased from approximately 12 million birds in the late 1950's to 6 million birds in the late 1960's. When water conditions improved, the mallard population climbed back to near 11 1/2 million in 1972. It appears as though we have begun another dry cycle, as in the early 1960's. Duration, of course, is an unknown.
Waterfowl breeding conditions in Nebraska look brighter than in the northern areas, but still are not excel lent. The two major breeding areas in Nebraska, the Sand Hills and the Rainwater Basin, varied in water conditions during the spring breeding survey. Water conditions in the Sand Hills were described as ranging from excellent in some areas to poor in others. Late spring rains did help considerably in some areas. The Rainwater Basin had excellent breeding habitat in the eastern half, but poor conditions in the western half.
The whole is equal to the sum of its parts, and Nebraska duck production, although slight, does contribute to the overall population. Even in good years, how ever, Nebraska contributes less than one percent to the total production in North America. Nebraska hunters are therefore largely dependent on northern produced birds. If Nebraska waterfowlers were to hunt only birds produced in their state, seasons would be very restricted or possibly nonexistent.
Nearly 50 percent of the ducks produced in Nebraska are early migrating blue-winged teal, which have usually departed for a warmer southern climate before duck sea son begins. The other 50 percent includes a variety of species, and Nebraska hunters do harvest a fair number of these birds during the early part of the duck season.
Waterfowl populations demand constant monitoring and careful management. Waterfowl undergo constant pressure from disease, predation, drainage and hunting. And, water conditions are always critical.
Management personnel will at times reduce seasons or bag limits to insure a healthy waterfowl population for the benefit of future generations of hunters and birdwatchers. With water conditions at significantly low levels, a reduction in bag limits and/or season length is a probability not only this year but in future years as well, at least until the situation improves. Hunters have come to realize that restrictions some years are beneficial in the long run, both to themselves and to waterfowl. This is one of those times when it is necessary.
Hunter-Landowner Dilemma
WHAT IS WRONG with hunter-landowner relations? Why do more and more Nebraska farms and ranches seem to be closed to hunting?
One landowner summed it up this way; "I have lost cattle, gates have been left open, property stolen, crops damaged, and the thing that galls me most is littering." But then he added, "If a man proves himself, he is welcome to hunt as long as he wishes".
In 1972, the Game and Parks Commission set out to find what it could do as an agency to improve relationships between hunters and landowners. It seemed that the first step was to delineate the problem areas, if there were indeed problem areas, so the Information and Education Division sent out a questionnaire to a random sample of hunters, and another to landowners. The response was overwhelming.
Landowners, in particular, were eager to express their opinions, and many of them sent letters along with their completed questionnaires. The tone of the remarks seemed to be one of sorrow, combined with an understanding that many of the problems experienced were caused by a minority of careless and irresponsible persons.
The Commission received so many letters that it has been impossible to answer them, however some of the most common complaints and suggestions are included in this run-down on the hunter-landowner survey.
The landowners surveyed viewed the problem very simply. They were angered by the arrogant attitude of some hunters they had dealt with. As one rancher complained; "Some hunters should recognize the fact that they are on someone else's property... they go driving by with the attitude that I am the intruder on my own land, even though they have never had permission to hunt".
Landowners remarked that hunters drive through fences and through fields and pastures, destroying crops and eroding the soil. Some have even suffered with hunters so close to their homes that pellets have broken windows despite the fact that Nebraska law forbids hunting within 200 yards of an inhabited dwelling. One farmer even said that he had been shot 5 times by careless hunters.
Many landowners like to hunt themselves, but they don't get much chance, they say, because the urban hunter gets there first. Many farmers and ranchers would like to maintain game population on their land, but, they say, hunters take even their "seed stock" leaving nothing for the following year. If hunters would only ask permission, the land owner could point out "birdy" spots and still protect the resource he finds on his land.
Then there's the hunter who asks permission beforehand, then brings three or four carloads of friends with him. One farmer remarked that it's like expecting two for dinner and getting 10. But even with all the problems, some landowners look forward to seeing hunters every fall. One of them remarked, "it's too bad that we can't eliminate troublemakers and enter a hunter's dream".
Hunters and landowners alike reported many law violators in the field. Road hunting and poaching were sore spots among farmers and ranchers. Hunters and landowners were also in agreement on their aversion to the mixture of alcohol and gunpowder, which, they said, is all too frequent.
Opinions from both groups on such things as wildlife numbers, posting, leasing hunting lands, and game law violators follow. They seem to indicate a clear need for more observance of rules and regulations concerning courtesy-and game law. Someone has to take the first step in creating closer ties between hunters and land owners, and it must be the individuals directly involved.
Often, slob hunters are directly responsible for closure of private lands Wildlife Numbers Landowners: Do you think wildlife numbers have in creased or decreased over the past 5 years on the farm or ranch which you operate? Increased 23.1 Decreased 76.9 If you think they have decreased, why do you think they have done so? Too much hunting pressure 44.8 Increase in predators 26.5 More intensive farming 13.7 Hunting seasons too long 12.0 Other 3.0 Hunters: Do you think the variety and numbers of wildlife have increased or decreased over the past 5 years where you have hunted? Increased 32.6 Decreased 67.4 If you think they have decreased, why do you think they have done so? Too much hunting pressure 27.6 Increase in predators 13.9 More intensive farming practices 45.5 Hunting seasons too long 8.9 Other 4.2 Why Post? Landowners: Do you post your land against hunting or trespass? Yes 49.8 No 50.1 18 If you do post your land, do you post it: No Hunting and/or No Trespassing and nobody is allowed to hunt 12.6 No Hunting and/or No NEBRASKAland ffunten- 11 landowner Dilemma Trespassing but allow hunting by relatives and close friends only 18.4 No Hunting and/or No Trespassing but allow hunting if permission is asked 38.5 Hunting by Permission Only 30.5 If you post the land, for how many years have you done so? 1/2 to 2 years 13.1 2 to 4 years 22.8 More than 4 years 64.1 If you post the land, why do you feel it is necessary? Crops are unharvested when hunting seasons begin 23.3 Hunting seasons are too long 18.7 Simply object to hunting 2.2 Hunters are a nuisance 16.8 Hunting endangers livestock 40.0 Because neighbors post their land 0.9 Have had a bad experience with hunters such as property or personal insult 26.5 To protect wildlife populations from too much hunting 26.1 Other 4.5 Hunters: During the past season, what percentage of land did you encounter that was posted against hunting or trespass? 0 to 25 percent 13.2 25 to 50 percent 26.4 50 to 75 percent 43.0 75 to 100 percent 17.4 For the most part, when you asked permission to hunt on posted land, was permission granted: Yes 85.4 No 14.6 Did you have problems locating landowners in order to ask permission to hunt? Yes No 50.7 $3 per hunter/day 49.3 $5 or more per hunter/day When permission was denied for you to hunt, was it usually: Because of unharvested crops, cattle in the areas, etc. 46.2 Because the landowners had had bad experiences with hunters 31.9 Because the landowner or renter simply did not allow hunting 14.4 Allowed relatives and friends only 18.9 Because the landowner complained of too many hunters 8.8 Because the landowner resented out-of-state hunter promotions 8.8 Other 3.3 Leasing Landowner: If you post the land "No Hunting" or "No Trespassing", would you consider opening your land to hunting on a reasonable fee basis? Yes 21.4 No 78.6 In 1971, did you lease or rent your land for hunting? Yes 1.5 No 98.5 Hunters: In the past few years, have you individually or as a group member, leased land for hunting privileges? Yes 6.5 No 93.5 What is the most you would be willing to pay a landowner for the privilege of hunting on his land? Don't believe it's right to charge 65.2 50 per hunter/day 8.6 $1 per hunter/day 16,7 4.9 4.6 Game Law Violators Landowners: Whether you post the land or not, if you personally have had a bad experience with hunters please check the items which apply. Damage to property such as fences, building, farm equipment, etc. 31.9 Injury to livestock 19.3 Carelessness in leaving gates open 36.0 Damage to crops 20.8 Littering 38.9 Other 5.7 Hunters: As a whole, do you feel that hunters live up to the meaning of the term sportsman where hunter/landowner relationships are concerned? Yes 63.8 No 36.2 Which of the following have you personally witnessed on the part of hunters? Damage to property 26.8 Injury to livestock 9.2 Carelessness in leaving gates open 36.7 Damage to crops 18.2 Littering 47.2 Shooting too close to farmstead or livestock 48.5 Other 5.1 If you witnessed mistreatment of private property, did you report it to the landowner: Yes 46.1 No 53.9
For Geese and Hunters
Located at the upper end of Lake McConaughy, Clear Creek provides public hunting as well as a winter refuge for Canadas
LOCATED on the western tip of Lake McConaughy, approximately five miles east of Lewellen, Nebraska, the Clear Creek waterfowl management area has the only Nebraska public hunting area in which the Canada goose is the primary target.
The area was established in 1960 and received its name from a small creek which flows intermittently along the eastern boundary. The Garden County Refuge adjoins the Clear Creek area to the west; thus providing migrating waterfowl an excellent haven during the fall migration. The Garden County Refuge is approximately 30 miles long, offering primarily North Platte River bottomland as refuge; whereas the Clear Creek area of fers considerable cropland in conjunction with the 20 Platte River channels, sloughs and islands. While being a refuge, the area's perimeter also provides some of the best Canada goose hunting in the state each fall. During the early 60's, a number of sportsmen were opposed to the refuge. Most now agree, however, that it has been beneficial both to the resource and to the hunter. The area is leased from the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District and managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
The wintering flocks of Canadas has increased from under 1,500 in 1960-61 to about 5,000 in 1972-73. Populations during the months of December and January in 1959 peaked at 600, and during the same period in 1972-73, over 12,000 geese were on the area. Along NEBRASKAland with the geese, 40,000 to 50,000 mallards also utilize the refuge. One of the primary reasons that waterfowl find the area attractive in the late winter months is due to the warm-water sloughs located within the refuge boundaries. The refuge lies almost in the center of the Central Flyway, thus providing Nebraska with Canada geese from many different northern flocks. Almost all sub-species of the Canada goose, from the giant Canada to the small Canada are present.
Canada, North Dakota and South Dakota as well as Nebraska, have all started Canada goose restoration programs in recent years. Many of these restoration geese find their way to the Clear Creek area to winter. Thus, if the restoration programs are successful, the area SEPTEMBER 1973 will become a very important factor in maintaining a portion of the breeding flock each fall and winter that returns north to nest. Nebraska's restoration flock will nest in the Nebraska Sandhills if everything goes accord ing to plan.
The management area consists of 2,500 acres of refuge and approximately 1,000 acres of public hunting. The refuge is planted to winter wheat, rye, corn and alfalfa. The wheat and rye crop are the "ice cream" crop for the geese until severe cold weather hits; then they will move into the harvested corn fields to utilize a diet offering them higher carbohydrates. Several hundred acres of trees and shrubs have been cleared to provide additional loafing (Continued on page 40)
in defense of Hunting
SHOUTING AT antihunters is rapidly becoming the favorite I pastime of many arm-toting Americans. In fact, as a Saturday afternoon diversion, it seems to be challenging trap shoots in popularity. Everyone from the president of the NRA to the janitor of the Podunk Rod and Gun Club has stepped up to the firing line and taken his potshots.
Unfortunately, hunters who defend their avocation with a bombardment of illogical rhetoric are doing themselves as great a disservice as an indignant alcoholic attacking his accuser with a gin bottle. In our overzealous attempts to rationalize sport hunting, we have, in many cases, proven the antihunters' point. Half truths and heated accusations will not make antihunters go away. We must, if we are to make a viable effort to justify the continuation of sport hunting, dispense with slobbering sentimentality, angry attacks and faulty logic. In short, we had better come up with some good, solid reasons and effectively communicate them to the growing number of sport-hunting critics.
On the sport of hunting, few calm voices have been heard only threatening cries from the alarmists and alarmed cries from the threatened. Unfortunately, the nonhunting public is most aware of the undesirable minority within sport-hunting ranks. The slob hunters have embedded themselves deeply in the public's consciousness by shooting farmers' livestock, road signs and each other. On the SEPTEMBER 1973 opposite end of the spectrum, and just as much in the minority, are the superpredators — those well-heeled, jetset gunners who spend bundles to have one of everything that walked Noah's plank, mounted on their walls. Where in all the commotion is the average hunter, the guy who owns one shotgun and one rifle, who hunts pheasants and maybe deer, and typifies the run-of-the-mill permit holder?
At the risk of being a bit pretentious, I would like to represent that average hunter for a few paragraphs —to record a disclaimer of those aforementioned minorities, too long passed off as typical hunters.
For a number of years now, I've sat the sidelines and listened to other hunters let off steam, I've read a bit of game management here and there and I've given considerable thought to my personal reasons for hunting. Individually and as objectively as possible, I would like to examine some of the common justifications offered in the defense of hunting. What follows are my opinions, no more.
The "cheap meat" supposition is perhaps the most frequently heard justification for hunting. From a purely economic standpoint, I do not believe that sport hunting can be justified by the vast majority of sportsmen.
A recent survey conducted by Nebraska Game and Parks Commission biologists showed that the average resident hunter spends about $13 for each pheasant bagged. That illustrates that for most hunters, the days of grabbing a brother's rifle, borrowing a few shells and walking down to the little creek on the edge of town to shoot a rabbit or squirrel are gone —sport hunting today costs money.
In one respect, though, sport hunting can be defended on economic grounds, assuming of course that it can be justified in the first place. In what other form of recreation, such as golfing or attending football games, do participants expect any return to pot or pocketbook? In most recreational diversions, the only return is the immediate pleasure of participating or observing. Viewed in that context, any wild game to reach the kitchen is in effect free. For me, a pair of mallards nestled down in a bed of sauerkraut is a more worthwhile side benefit of my Saturday afternoon than cancelled stadium tickets.
Perhaps the most overextended justification for hunting involves the Kaibab principle. For-a 20-year period after the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona was established as a game preserve, all hunting was prohibited and predators were systematically removed. Deer numbers responded with a steady, uncontrolled growth and soon exceeded the range's carrying capacity. During that period the herd was estimated to have increased from 5,000 animals to over 100,000. In a matter of a few years, massive die-offs occurred during (Continued on page 49)
Young Hunter Training Program
Taking a beginner in tow to teach techniques, sportsmanship is goal
UNDER OPTIMUM conditions, a youngster's first hunt can be a thrill to remember forever. It can also turn out as a disappointment to be shoved to a dark corner of the mind and smothered by racing cars or fast company. Under the worst combination of circumstances, the first hunt results in a tragic accident to haunt the survivor for all time. Some youngster in your town may be on that first hunt this fall. The results can depend on adequate guidance and supervision from an experienced sportsman. If you have the hunting experience and a little free time, you could be that sportsman who makes the difference.
Last fall, George Patrick of Grand Island heard the call. Jim Ensinger, age 15, needed the help. Jim's father would have done the job, but poor health eliminated that possibility throughout the season. George worked Saturdays with Mondays off, but Jim was in school on Mondays, and, there was a great deal of poor weather during the season. As a result, the pair didn't make many trips or bag much game, but the season did include Jim's first rabbit, pheasant and squirrel.
Photographer Bob Grier and I joined them to record a late February hunt. That day Jim added another cottontail to his season take and teamed up with George to bag a surprisingly fast opossum that was caught out in the open.
Not one to promote shooting just for the killing, George gave complete instructions on how to prepare the animal for the platter. George and Jim gave their full attention to dressing the bunny too, know ing that this task is an inseparable part of a success ful hunt. We hunted (Continued on page 56)
Season of Plenty
Nebraska has long laid claim to the title of Mixed-Bag Capital of the nation. Deserved or not our state offers a wide variety of game animals: four species of geese, 15 common species of ducks, rails and snipe, five up land birds, two common species of small game and three big-game animals. An attempt to compare this game abundance with that of the early 1800s would be foolhardy. The days when vast herds of bison blanketed the plains and rail cars lined up and were stacked with barrels of salted grouse, will never return. This is the price we have paid for the comforts of a burgeoning society. While some game animals have actually increased in response to man's changes on the land, and several introduced species have found agricultural land to be suitable habitat, we must face the simple fact that game abundance will continue to decline as human populations grow. As grim as these prospects seem, both for the wildlife resource and those who feel a need for it, we are beginning yet another... A truly cosmopolitan species, the mallard is known the world over. During wet years as many as 20,000 to 25,000 potential breeders are found in the state's Sandhill and Rainwater Basin areas. A proportionately large number of mallards are harvested by hunters, with them making up 50 percent or more of Nebraska's total duck harvest in most years. Before settlement of the west, prairie sloughs swarmed with greenheads. At the turn of the century, a Shickley man shot over 1 50 mallards in one day. The mallard's success at surviving man's intrusion while other species are declining can partially be explained by its adaptability. As a species, they readily converted to a grain diet as agriculture spread over the nation's interior, and rapidly developed more nocturnal habits as hunting pressure increased. Most years, Nebraska overwinters from 150,000 to 300,000 mallards, primarily along the Platte River from Kearney to Scottsbluff and at the major reservoirs. This will be the fifth year that a High Plains Management Unit in the western third of the state has been used to achieve a higher harvest of these late migrating mallard drakes.
Chronicle of hunting
Philosophies have changed over the years, but many problems and goals remain. Operating funds and sportsmanship are primary but elusive requirements in any game management program, old or new
ACCOUNTS OF early-day hunting have always held special interest for sportsmen. Mind's-eye views of vast quantities of fowl and hooved game enter the consciousness of most hunters at one time or another. Generally the mid to late 1800s are conjured back, but as time moves forward, so do the "good old days" of hunting. For many, the early decades of this century are now thought of as days of abundant waterfowl and upland game, and we can at will thrust ourselves into the colorful garb of those early sport hunters and relive the days of spring duck shooting and limitless grouse coveys.
Generally we gain insight into those earlier days by ways of books and magazines or the tales of aged men. The biennial reports to the governor from the Nebraska Fish Commission up to 1901, the Fish and Game Commission up to 1929, and the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission after that offer interest ing and often amusing behind-the scene glimpses of the hunting picture in Nebraska during the first few decades of the 1900's.
The state of affairs when Ezra P. Savage was appointed as the first Commissioner of the Fish and Game Commission in 1901 read as follows: "From the date of my appointment the demand for the immediate enforcement of the law became in sistent, thus proving that the law (creating the Commission, Ed.) was one of the most popular ever passed by the Nebraska legislature. Previously to assuming the duties of the office I became aware that there was absolutely nothing to begin with whatever, as the enforcement of the fish laws by the Board of Fish Commissioners had been entirely neglected, and the money appropriated for this purpose being diverted to other channels, and no protection whatever being afforded our rapidly decreasing game. Under these deplorable circumstances, as soon as it became evident to the public that this department intended to rigidly enforce the law, the people and press were unanimous in their approval, and a widespread interest in the commission's work became manifest throughout the state."
The financial dealings of the Fish and Game Commission for the years 1901 and 1902 support Commissioner Savage's statement about the difficulties he \aced. The total amount of money assessed from the 97 violations of the game and fish laws was $387 while the total amount incurred by the commission for that same period in enforcing the laws and including all expenses of the state fish hatcheries was $11,988.86. Two deputy wardens were on the payroll, and for the two year period received $3,600 in salaries.
'From the number of prosecutions it will be observed the wardens have been vigilant in the discharge of their duties and although the amount of the fines in the aggregate are large ($387.55), yet your commission has endeavored to use discretion in its enforcement of the laws, and we do not hesitate to say that not in a single instance, has any one been fined or imprisoned, who did not richly deserve it. We regret to say that in a few instances some that should have been punished, were liberated by friendly courts, in fact there seems to be a disposition on the part of a number of judges and justices in rendering decisions, to mix politics with justice."
Most reports to the governor included a brief summary on the current status of the game animals of the state, such as the following from 1901 and 1902.
"Our game birds show a marked increase as the result of judicious laws and practical protection. Prairie chicken in the eastern and lower counties have increased to a considerable extent the past two years, while in the middle west and northern counties, they show a marked increase. Quail also show a remark able increase in the eastern and lower counties of the state, and have extended their habitat to the most northern and western counties of the state. The noble bird may be truly called the farmers' friend, as its progress must always be proceeded by the husbandman. It is not a lover of forest cover, but on the contrary takes up its abode in the cleared fields and hedge rows, where it feeds almost entirely upon the cultivated weed seeds, and insect life so injurious to the farmer."
"In my judgment if we would replenish and retain our wild waterfowl, prompt action must be taken by congress in framing wholesome laws for their protection. I believe no better method can be evolved as a sure protective and repletive measure, than the adoption of a uniform open season. Nothing has done more in my judgment to deplete our stock of wild water-fowl, than spring shoot ing. To disturb, annoy and slaughter these birds, while on their way to their breeding grounds, ignoring the unerring law of nature, which provides that the species shall be permitted to reproduce themselves, wantonly slaughtering them for none other than purely mercinary or selfish motives, and this at a time when their flesh is wholly unfit and unwholesome as food, is surely and quickly doing its work, and I would therefore recommend...a uniform closed season for all wild water-fowl, from the 1st day of January to the 1st day of September next following thereafter."
Commissioner Savage ended that biennial report with the following recommendations:
"That deer and antelope be protected. There are about 100 antelope and 50 deer in this state and should be protected for a period of five years. That the open season for prairie chickens and grouse begin September 1, and close November 30th next ensuing. That the beaver be protected perpetually, as they are very scarce."
Nebraska's first hunting and fish ing license was authorized in 1901. The cost was $1. Anyone hunting or fishing during the open season with in the county of his actual residence was not required to purchase a license. However, if he fished or hunted outside the county, he had to buy a license.
The 1908 report substantiated Savage's earlier misgivings about an
36 NEBRASKAland SEPTEMBER 1973 37
Chronicle
of hunting
Hunt and fish permits do not in themselves tell
the story, but they are interesting and colorful
tokens of their respective eras. They have become
more valuable than face amount to collectors
unregulated season on the prairie grouse but was generally optimistic as concerned other game species.
"In my last biennial, I reported a marked increase in prairie chicken and grouse over the previous biennial, and I am sorry that I cannot report still further increase now. During the past two seasons prairie chickens have appeared to be very plentiful on the breeding grounds in the spring, but unseasonable weather seemed to prevent good hatchings, and coveys have been very small. Again, we find the increased settle ment of our sand-hill section, due to the Kinkaid homestead law, has been detrimental to these birds, because they disturb them during the nesting season, and it is reported that they kill a great many out of season and in season, sometimes from necessity, and always at a time and in a manner that we have been unable to stop them effectually...
"Wild ducks have shown a marked increase during the past biennial, a condition hailed with delight by every sportsman, because it affords him better opportunity to indulge in his favorite sport, and without the danger of stirring the wrath of his farmer friend.
"Wild geese are not found to any great extent except along the Missouri and Platte rivers, and are really becoming quite scarce.
"Deer and antelope have in creased. It is reported that the Dismal River herd of deer has increased until there are now about 100 animals in Thomas and adjoining coun ties, they were also found as far south as Lincoln County, where we prosecuted for killing two of them.
"Antelope have increased more rapidly than deer, due to their protection in Colorado and Wyoming. Numerous small herds are reported from western counties, particularly Cheyenne, Deuel and Chase."
"The universal license law as passed by the legislature of 1911 has proven to be a very satisfactory law with the sportsmen and the public in general throughout the state, and a very substantial revenue producer. The hunters and anglers express themselves as being willing to pay the dollar for the license, but in return they feel as though the money thus collected should be put at the disposal of the Game and Fish Commission for the improvement of its interest, so that more protection can be given the birds and fish we now have and more of the same propagated, and I most heartily recom mend that the coming legislature appropriates an amount equivalent to the amount of revenue collected for the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.
"The bag limit on game birds has some little opposition by the sportsmen. Persons in the eastern section of the state are compelled to travel some distance for prairie chicken and grouse shooting, and are allowed to kill but ten chickens or grouse in any one calendar day, and allowed to have but ten chickens or grouse in their possession at any time. This makes each bird killed quite expensive to the persons traveling two or three hundred miles to shoot them. I would recommend that the legislature change this law slightly, leaving the limit of chickens or grouse shot in any one calendar day ten, and the number for a person to have in their possession twenty."
As dated as the reports are, some of the words still are appropriate 50 years after they were written. Concern for hunter ethics and the ulti mate destruction of the wildlife resources are sprinkled throughout the reports.
"Hunting, up to date, is not conducted as in former years. Hunters would then go into the fields with their dogs and guns and tramp all day for game birds. It was sport with them and is what the most of them went for. Nowadays a few go hunting this old way, but the majority of hunters take an auto, rush out to where the birds are located, kill the limit or more, and are back home in short order. Hunters in an auto will get more birds in a short time than a sportsman will get in several days, and with the large number of autos now in use it will readily be seen that a large number of birds are killed in a short time. A sportsman picks a few birds out of each covey, leaving the balance to multiply. Those who go out for birds only take every one in sight, regardless of consequences to the next breeding season."
The year 1919 saw the Legislature do away with the Commission and place the administration of game and fish laws under the Department of Agriculture where it becarfie known as the Bureau of Game and Fish.
The same time period saw the first serious attempts at establishing the ring-necked pheasant in the state. Early attempts were far from success ful as related in one report.
"Five hundred birds, consisting of several varieties of pheasants, were purchased from various game preserves at Oak Park, Illinois, Yardley, Pennsylvania, and Jefferson City, Missouri, but we had the same experience as other states have had in the beginnings —losing a great many of the birds in transport and in change of quarters, and also on account of inexperience and knowledge of habits and requirements of these birds; therefore, the results are not all that we could have hoped for. In the neighborhood of 200 birds have been distributed and liberated over the state, and 432 birds are still on hand.
The report said, "The chief value of pheasants lies in their insectivorous nature which makes them valuable in combating insect pests in sections where much damage results to crops from this source.
"These birds have become quite numerous in Howard, Sherman, Valley and Greeley counties where a limited number were distributed for the first time a few years ago. Continued importations in limited amounts should result in a great in crease in the number of these birds within a few years and cause a considerable addition to the game supply of the state."
The greatest distribution of game birds in the history of Nebraska was reported for the 1927-28 biennium. A total of 28,632 Chinese ringnecks and 800 Hungarian partridges were distributed throughout the state.
The Nebraska Game, Forestation and Parks Commission came into existence on April 22, 1929 at which time the revised Game Code was approved by the governor.
The Game Commission in 1929 had real estate valued at $518,000 and equipment at $56,500.
During the same biennium the Game, Forestation and Parks Commission entered the field of conser vation education, both in printed form and on film to increase public awareness of the wildlife dilemma.
"The Commission has felt that education is an important part of law enforcement and has authorized steps to be taken which would bring
"Motion pictures have been taken of the Commission's activities and these have been furnished free with a game warden in charge to lecture the schools and organizations desiring same.
"The latter part of 1929, the Commission furnished each District Warden with a suitable uniform and since that time, wardens have been required to wear the same while checking permits and where coming in contact with the public generally. Of course, it is not always possible for the warden to be in uniform, as attimeshemustwithhold his identity. All District Wardens are furnished autombiles purchased by the Commission and in no case are Wardens paid mileage—Small automobiles are used and traded in at the end of each year, thus making the depreciation cost per man very small. Cars are operated on the average for, from 2 to 4t per mile, including depreciation.
The fall of 1927 went down in hunting annals as the first time an open season was declared on the ring-necked pheasant in Nebraska. A three-day season was opened in Sherman and Wheeler counties with the result that about 5,000 birds were bagged. In the fall of 1928, a 10-day season was held in Garfield, Wheeler, Valley, Greeley, Sherman, Howard, Buffalo, Hall and Merrick counties. Over 35,000 pheasants were taken.
"These open seasons decided beyond a question of a doubt that the ring-necked pheasant is an excellent game bird and is fine eating. They are hardy enough to protect them selves and with a reasonable open season the stock can be protected indefinitely."
Waterfowl nimrods in 1938 had from Oct. 15 to Nov. 28 to take their daily bag limits of 10 ducks. Pheasant season was relatively short, last ing from Oct. 16 to Oct. 29. The daily bag and possession limit was five birds. One hen pheasant was permitted.
The pheasant outlook for 1940 was the best in the state's history. A bag limit of five birds was set for the Oct. 20-Nov. 2 season. Due to an extremely heavy concentration of the ringnecks in the North Platte Valley, a second season was author ized for Nov. 10-16. Daily bag and possession limit for the second season was three male pheasants.
Game abundance in Nebraska as over much of North America, has nearly completed the cycle —from the mid-to-late-1800's abundance, to the decline of all game species in the early decades of this century, and more recently a struggling climb from that low point. During those same years, the state agency charged with the wellbeing of Nebraska's wildlife grew from a few people concerned largely with fish production, to the current staff of over 300 professionals involved in every aspect of conservation in the state. Recent accounts of Nebraska's wildlife resource and of those concerned with its perpetuation also makes for interesting reading and material for the annals of history.
FOR GEESE AND HUNTERS
(Continued from page 21)sites for the geese and to improve the public hunting area. Approximately 150 acres of rye have been planted on the public hunt ing portion to attract geese within gun range.
During the 1972-73 waterfowl season, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission established a controlled hunting area along the eastern boundary of the refuge. Twenty five blind sites were selected and opened for public application. Applications for the sites are accepted in the Game and Parks office in Lincoln between July 1 through August 10.
Applicants for the blind sites must be residents of Nebraska and be at least 16 years of age. Only one application can be submitted by an individual, whether as a single applicant or as part of a 2 to 4 member hunting party. However, non-residents and hunters under 16 years of age can hunt unoccupied blinds during the season.
The successful applicants are then allotted the blind site for one waterfowl hunting season. Each must construct his own blind by September 15th each year, and the blind must be removed by June 1 the following year. The blind may be constructed of any durable material, must offer concealment for at least three hunters, but may not be occupied by more than four hunters. No lock can be placed on the blind, nor may any hunting equipment be stored in it.
When the owner of the blind has not occupied his blind by legal shooting time each day, then the blind will be assigned to other hunters by Game and Parks Commission personnel at the check point.
All hunters must check in and out of the area check station. Game and Parks Commission personnel are on hand to assist hunters with questions, directions and to allot the open blinds. The controlled hunt ing area was received with mixed emotions by the public at first; however, the 652 different hunters that utilized the area during the 1972-73 season voiced verv few complaints. A total of 126 geese and 493 ducks were harvested during the 1972-73 season. The 1972-73 season was rather unusual, with a late arrival of geese and extremely cold weather and heavy snowfall during the season.
About half of the 25 blinds on the area are field types, and the remainder require breast waders to gain entry. At times, ice jams and high water make these blinds treacherous to reach.
The geese usually arrive in early November and are present the remainder of the hunting season. In addition to the Clear Creek Controlled Hunting Area, Lake McConaughy offers the goose hunter many miles of beach and floater blind sites.
For the hunter who does not have the time or opportunity to construct a blind, several commercial setups exist along the north boundary of the refuge. A hunter can purchase a reservation in one of these blinds for $15 to $20 per day. Overall, the controlled hunting area, private blinds, Lake McConaughy blinds and the commercial blinds accounted for approximately 1,163 geese and 2,300 ducks (primarily mallards) bagged during 1972-73.
Although the primary purpose of the Clear Creek Area is for management of the Canada goose, several other species of wildlife benefit from the area. Pheasant and deer hunting can be productive on the public hunting portion of the area. During the fall and winter months over 50 bald and golden eagles can be observed on the immediate area. Every evening about sundown, 40 to 50 head of white-tailed deer move onto the alfalfa and the wheat fields to feed. Sandhill cranes, snow geese and pelicans are frequent visitors during spring migrations.
During the spring and summer months, catfish and white bass angling in the North Platte River, which flows through the area, is hard to beat. The quality of catfishing in this area from early May to early August is unparallelled in any of the midwestern states. Stringers of two to five-pound catfish are a common sight. The refuge is open to the public from April 1 to October 1 annually.
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Public Hunting Areas
SOUTHWEST State Wildlife Areas Bartley Diversion Dam (53 land acres; riverfront). Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Fishing. 3 miles east of tndianola, U.S. 6-34 Bassway Strip (515 land; 100 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Fishing. Minden interchange I-80, south on Nebr. 10 to marked access road Birdwood Lake (13 land; 20 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. +2 mile south, Vh miles west, 1 mile north of North Platte exit, 1-80 Blue Hole (450 land; 125 water acres). Quail, Waterfowl, Deer. Fishing. Both sides of U.S. 183, just south of Elm Creek interchange I-80 Bufflehead (30 land; 10 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. 4 miles east of Kearney interchange I-80, county road Coot Shallows (23 land; 12 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. 1+4 miles west of Odessa inter- change I-80, county road Cottonwood Canyon (15 land acres). Pheasant, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Fishing. 1V2 miles south of Maxwell, county road Cozad (180 land; 16 water acres). Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Fishing. Southwest quadrant of Cozad interchange I-80 Darr Strip (767 land acres; riverfront). Waterfowl, Deer. Fishing in Platte River. 3 miles east of Cozad interchange 1-80 on south side, county road Dogwood (264 land; 10 water acres). Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Fishing. 4+4 miles west of Overton, U.S. 30, 3+2 miles south, county road East Gothenburg (23 land; 14 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. 4+2 miles northeast of Gothenburg interchange I-80 East Hershey (20 land; 20 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. Vi mite south, 7+2 miles west, 1% miles north of North Platte interchange 1-80 East Odessa (71 land; 60 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camp ing, Fishing. 5 miles east of Odessa interchange on eastbound access road, south side of I-80 East Sutherland (8 land; 27 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. Vs mile south, 3 miles west, Vi mile north of Hershey interchange I-80 Enders Reservoir (3,643 land; 1,070 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Portion posted as refuge. 9+2 miles southeast of Imperial, U.S. 6 Fremont Slough (15 land; 26 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. 1+2 miles south, 43A miles north east of North Platte interchange 1-80 Hayes Center (78 land; 40 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Fishing. 12 miles northeast of Hayes Center, county road Hershey (70 land; 53 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. Southeast quadrant Hershey interchange I-80 Jeffrey Canyon (35 land; 588 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Fishing. 5 miles south, 3 miles west of Brady, county road Kea West (4 land; 7 water acres). Waterfowl, Fishing. 1 mile north, 1+2 miles west, 1 mile south of Kearney interchange 1-80 Limestone Bluffs (479 land acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. 6 miles south of Franklin, Nebr. 10, 2+4 miles east, county road Medicine Creek (6,726 land; 1,768 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Concession on rented trailer space. Public trailer spaces available also. 2 miles west of Cambridge, U.S. 6-34; 7 miles north, access road Plum Creek (5 land; 320 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. 5 miles south west of Lexington, U.S. 283; 2 miles west, county road; 1 mile south, county road; 5 miles west, county road Red Willow Diversion Dam (56 land; 5 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camp ing, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 9 miles north of McCook, U.S. 83 Red Willow Reservoir (4,320 land; 1,628 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Concession of rental trailer spaces. 11 miles north of McCook, U.S. 83 Sacramento-Wilcox (2,911 land; 400 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Area is combination land and marsh. 2!4 miles west of Wilcox, county road to access sign Sandy Channel (133 land; 47 water acres). Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Fishing. 1 Vi miles south of Elm Creek interchange I-80, marked access Sutherland Reservoir (36 land; 3,017 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Fishing. 2 miles south of Sutherland, Nebr. 25 Swanson Reservoir (3,957 land; 4,974 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Concession-controlled trailer parking. 2 miles west of Trenton, U.S. 34 Wellfleet (115 land; 49 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Cabins, Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Two privately-owned cabins on concession. Controlled trailer space. +2 mile southwest of Wellfleet, county road west of U.S. 83 West Cozad (30 land; 18 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. 1 mile north, 1+4 mile west, 1 mile south of Cozad interchange 1-80 West Gothenburg (47 land; 15 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. 3% miles southeast of Brady West Maxwell (6 land; 7 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. Northwest about 1 mile from Brady interchange 1-80 Willow Island (45 land; 30 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. 1 mile north, 5 miles west, 1 south of Cozad interchange I-80 Wood River (13 land; 15 water acres). Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces. 3 miles south of Wood River, county road State Park/Recreation Areas Crystal Lake (33 land; 30 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 1 +2 miles north of Ayr, county road. Enders Reservoir (see above) Gallagher (24 land; 400 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camping, Drink ing Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 8 miles south of Cozad off Nebr. 21 Johnson Reservoir (50 land; 2,061 water acres). Waterfowl. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 7 miles south of Lexington, U.S. 283 Kearney (152 land acres; sandpits). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. % mile east, 1 mile north of Ft. Kearny State Historical Park; just off Nebr. 10, county road Maloney Reservoir (132 land; 1,000 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drink ing Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 6 miles south of North Platte, U.S. 83, marked access road Medicine Creek (see above) Ravenna (53 land; 30 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Squirrel. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 1 mile southeast of Ravenna, Nebr. 2 Red Willow Reservoir (see above) Rock Creek (165 land; 50 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 4 miles north, 1 mile west of Parks, U.S. 34, gravel road Swanson Reservoir (see above) Federal Reservoir/Waterfowl Areas Atlanta Marsh (640 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit % mile north of Atlanta, county road Bluestem Lagoon (77 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 1 mile south, 3 miles east, 2 miles south of Axtell Clark Lagoon (451 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 6 miles east, 1 mile north of Wilcox, county road Elley Lagoon (60 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 2 miles west of Bertrand, Nebr. 23, 2+2 miles south, county road Frerichs Lagoon (47 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 2 miles east, +2 mile north of Wilcox, county road Gleason Lagoon (569 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 4 miles south of Minden, Nebr. 10; 4 miles west, county road Hanson Lagoon (320 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 10 miles south of Sutton, county road Harlan County Reservoir (17,278 land; 13,000 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Controlled by U.S. Corps of Engineers. At Alma, U.S. 183, or U.S. 136 Harms Lagoon (60 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 2 miles east, 3 miles south of Clay Center, county road Harvard Marsh (280 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 4 miles west, 1 mile north of Harvard Jensen Lagoon (465 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 6 miles south, 1 mile east of Norman, county road Jones Marsh (166 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 2 miles east, 2 miles north of Atlanta Killdeer Basin (38 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 3 miles east, 1+2 miles north of Wilcox, county road Lange Lagoon (160 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 2 miles south, 1/2 mile east of Sutton, county road Lindau Lagoon (152 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 6 miles south, 4 miles east of Axtell, county road Macon Lakes (550 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 6+2 miles north of Franklin Peterson Basin (994 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 3 miles south of Bertrand, county road Prairie Dog Marsh (731 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 2 miles east, 2 miles north of Wilcox, county road Quadhamer Lagoon (590 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 3 miles west, 1 mile south of Hildreth, county road Ritterbush Lagoon (81 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 5 miles south of Hildreth PANHANDLE State Wildlife Areas Clear Creek Waterfowl Management Area (5,709 land; 300 water acres). A controlled waterfowl hunting area based on preseason drawing for blind sites. Vi mile south, 3 miles east of Lewellen Gilbert-Baker (2,452 land; 5 water acres). Deer, Turkey. Drinking Water, Camping, Fishing. 4+2 miles north of Harrison, access road James Ranch (10,000+ land; 50+ water acres). Deer, Turkey, Squirrel, Rabbit. 3 miles west of Crawford, U.S. 20 Metcalf (1,317 land acres). Deer, Turkey, Rabbit. 14 miles north of Hay Springs, county road Nine Mile Creek (180 land acres). Pheasant, Deer, Rabbit. Stream fishing as posted. 3 miles east of Minatare, U.S. 26, 7 miles north, county road Peterson (2,400 land acres). Pheasant, Rabbit, Deer, Turkey. 8 miles west of Crawford, U.S. 20 MANUFACTURE YOUR OWN WATERFOWL DECOYS SAVE ON THE HIGH COST OF TOP QUALITY GUNNING DECOYS. Manu facture your own tough, rugged, solid plastic decoys with our famous cast aluminum molding outfits. We are the originators of this unique do it-yourself decoy making system. Over a half million of our decoys now in use. No special tools needed. Just boil 'em and make 'em. We have decoy making outfits for all pop ular species of ducks and geese, both regular and oversize. Also for field geese and ducks. Write today for colorful catalog of decoys, paints, and other decoy making acces- sories. Please send 25 to cover handling. DECOYS UNLIMITED, INC. Dept. ON • Box 69 Clinton, Iowa 52732 NATIONAL HUNTING & FISHING DAY CATCH ALL-PURPOSLTRAPS Wrltofor FREE CATALOG Low as $4.95 Traps without injury squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, mink, fox, rac coons, stray animals, pests, etc. Sizes for every need. Also traps for snakes, sparrows, pigeons, crabs, turtles, quail, etc. Save on our low factory prices. Send no money. Free catalog and trapping secrets. MUSTANG MFG. CO., Dept. H-84, Box 10880, Houston, Tex. 77111 When hunting in McCook area Chief MOTEL PHONE 345-3700 612 West B McCook, Nebraska On U.S. Highway 6, 34 and 83 AIR CONDITIONED - DIRECT DIAL PHONES KING LENGTH BED - CHIEF STEAK HOUSE WALL-TO-WALL CARPET - TV 42 NEBRASKAland SEPTEMBER 1973 43
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THE PINES
Rooms and Cabins
Adjacent to the Finest
Trout Stream in Nebraska.
Ph: (402) 273-4483
Long Pine, Nebraska 69217
AUTHORS WANTED BY
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Leading book publisher seeks manuscripts of all
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Country- Lakeview
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ACCESS NO. 18
Ponderosa (3,659 land acres). Deer, Turkey, Rabbit, Squirrel. 2V2 miles south of Crawford, Ne
braska 2; four miles east
Smith Lake (420 land; 200 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camping,
Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 23 miles south of Rushville, Nebr. 250
State Park/Recreation Areas
Box Butte (612 land; 1,600 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camping, Drinking
Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 10 miles north of Hemingford, county road
Bridgeport, (126 land; 70 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping,
Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 1 mile west of Bridgeport, off U.S. 26
Chadron State Park (801 land acres). Hunting on adjacent areas for Deer, Pheasant, Grouse,
Turkey, Antelope, and Waterfowl. Check with park superintendent. Camping, Cabins, Drinking
Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 9 miles south of Chadron, Nebr. 385
Fort Robinson State Park (25,000 land; 50 water acres.) Check with superintendent for areas
open to public hunting for Deer, Antelope, Grouse, Pheasant, Turkey. Cabins, Camping, Drinking
Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 3 miles west of Crawford, U.S. 20
Lake McConaughy (5,492 land; 34,760 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Privately-owned lodging available. 11 miles
north of Ogallala, Nebr. 61
Lake Ogallala (339 land; 320 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking
Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 9 miles north of Ogallala, Nebr. 61
Wildcat Hills (240 land acres). Deer, Turkey. Camping, Trailer Spaces. 10 miles south of Gering,
Nebr. 29 to access road
Federal Refuge/Forest Areas
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge (40,900 acres). Only designated portion of refuge open
to hunting for Grouse, Pheasant, Deer, during regular seasons in accordance with state regulations.
Archery hunting for Deer and Antelope permitted. Drinking Water, Fishing. Maps of the area and
special instructions available at refuge headquarters. No camping. No open fires. I6V2 miles north
of Oshkosh between U.S. 26 and Nebr. 2
Oglala National Grassland (94,344 land acres). Deer, Antelope, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water,
Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Camping facilities are located at Toadstool Park on access road west of
Highway 2. Public hunting areas are marked with Forest Service signs. Campfires in designated
areas only. Maps available by writing U.S. Forest Service, Chadron, Nebr. Extreme northwestern
corner of Nebr. above U.S. 20 between Harrison and Crawford
Pine Ridge Division, Nebraska National Forest (102,392 land acres). Deer, Antelope, Turkey,
Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces. Two camping areas. Red Cloud picnic grounds
5 miles south of Chadron, 1 mile east on access road. Spotted Tail campground 10 miles south of
Chadron on U.S. 385, just east of highway. Public hunting areas are marked. South of U.S. 20
between Chadron and Crawford
State Park/Recreation Areas
Atkinson Lake (36 land; 14 water acres). Waterfowl. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces,
Fishing. V2 mile west of Atkinson, U.S. 20, Nebr. 11
Bowman Lake (23 land; 20 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking
Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. V2 mile west of Loup City, Nebr. 92
Cottonwood Lake (180 land; 60 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camp
ing, Drinking Water, Fishing. V2 mile east, % mile south of Merriman, south of U.S. 20
Long Lake (30 land; 50 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camping, Drink
ing Water/Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 20 miles southwest of Johnstown, county road
Long Pine (154 land acres). Deer, Turkey, Squirrel. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces,
Fishing. Trout fishing. Local inquiry recommended. Northwest of Long Pine just south of U.S. 20
Merritt Reservoir (6,146 land; 2,906 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Deer, Rabbit.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. No hunting permitted north of a line from boat
ramp and parking area to west abutment of dam. 26 miles southwest of Valentine, U.S. 83
Sherman Reservoir (see above)
SAND HILLS
State Wildlife Areas
American Game Marsh (40 land; 120 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl. 19 miles south,
1 mile east of Johnstown, U.S. 20
Arcadia Diversion Dam (773 land; 109 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Deer. Camping, Drink
ing Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 31/2 miles south of Comstock, county road
Ballards Marsh (961 land; 340 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl. Camping, Drinking
Water. 20 miles south of Valentine, U.S. 83
Big Alkali (47 land; 842 water acres). Grouse, Waterfowl. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces,
Fishing. 17 miles south, 3 miles west of Valentine, U.S. 83, Nebr. 483
Goose Lake (50 land; 300 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking
Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 25 miles south of O'Neill, U.S. 281, county road
Hull Lake (36 land; 5 water acres). Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Camping. 3 miles west, 2 miles
south of Butte, Nebr. 11
Milburn Diversion Dam (317 land; 355 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces. 2 miles northwest of Milburn, county road
Pressey (1,524 land; 15 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping, Drinking
Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 5 miles north of Oconto, Nebr. 21
Rat and Beaver Lakes (204 land; 33 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl, Deer. Camping,
Fishing. 30 miles southwest of Valentine, U.S. 83
Schlagel Creek (440 land; 1 water acres). Grouse, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Fishing. 11 miles
south of Valentine, U.S. 83; 4 miles west on Sand Hills Trail
Sherman Reservoir (4,721 land; 2,845 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 4 miles east of Loup City, county road
South Twin Lake (107 land; 53 water acres). Pheasant, Grouse, Waterfowl. 19 miles south of
Johnstown on dirt road, 3 miles west, trail road
Federal Refuge/Forest Areas
Bessey Division, Nebraska National Forest (90,350 land acres). Grouse, Rabbit, Turkey, Antelope,
Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Check at headquarters for special regula
tions. 1 mile west of Halsey, Nebr. 2
Samuel R. McKelvie Division, Nebraska National Forest (115,703 lancj acres). Grouse, Rabbit,
Deer, Antelope, Turkey. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces. Check at headquarters for
special regulations. 10 miles south of Nenzel, Nebr. 7 or trail road from Merritt Reservoir
Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (61,000 land; 11,000 water acres). Only specially-posted
areas open. Regular season dates in effect for Grouse, Pheasant, and Deer, except grouse and
pheasant hunting is closed during the duck season. Archery and firearm deer hunting permitted
in accordance with state regulations. Maps of area and special instruction available at refuge
headquarters. No camping. No open fires. 13 miles south of Valentine, U.S. 83; west on State
Spur 483
NORTHEAST
State Wildlife Areas
Basswood Ridge (320 land acres). Pheasant, Quail, Deer, Rabbit, Squirrel. 2 miles northwest of
Homer, U.S. 73-77
Bazile Creek (2,530 land; 10 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer.
Camping, Fishing. Waterfowlers may hunt shoreline of Lewis and Clark Lake and islands on the
Nebraska side. 2 miles east of Niobrara, Nebr. 12
Grove Lake (1,524 land; 67 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 2 miles north of Royal, U.S. 20, on county road
Sioux Strip (25 land acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit. Three separate areas as posted along aban
doned railroad right-of-way. 2 miles southeast of Randolph, county road
Whitetail (185 land; 31 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping,
Fishing in Platte River. V2 mile west of Schuyler, U.S. 30; 3 miles south, county road
Wood Duck (311 land; 26 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer.
Fishing. 1 % miles west, 1 mile north, county road
Yellowbanks (254 land; 5 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Fishing
in Elkhorn River. 3 miles north of Battle Creek, Nebr. 121, 2Vi miles west, Vi mile north, county
road
State Park/Recreation Areas
Dead Timber (150 land; 50 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer.
Camping, Drinking Water, Fishing. 4 miles north of Scribner, U.S. 275, V/2 miles east on access
road
Lewis and Clark Lake (1,227 land; 31,000 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit,
Squirrel, Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Privately-owned lodging avail-
able. Area extends along shoreline from Gavins Point Dam to Santee. 15 miles north of Crofton,
Nebr. 98
Niobrara State Park (405 land; 3 water acres). Deer. Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces,
Fishing. Check with park superintendent. % mile south, 1 mile west of Niobrara, Nebr. 12
Omadi Bend (33 land acres, backwater of river). Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Drinking Water. 2
miles north, 3 miles east of Homer, U.S. 73-77
Pibel Lake (42 land; 24 water acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Deer. Camping. 9 miles south
of Bartlett, U.S. 281, 1 mile east, access road
Ponca State Park (803 land acres). Deer hunting only. Check with park superintendent. Cabins,
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 2 miles north of Ponca, access road
SOUTHEAST
State Wildlife Areas
Ash Grove (74 land; 1 water acres). Pheasant, Quail. 6 miles southwest of Franklin, county road
Borman Bridge (160 land acres; riverfront). Quail, Deer. Fishing. 2 miles southeast of Valentine
on U.S. 20
Cornhusker (814 land acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit. Camping, Drinking Water. Weapons re-
stricted to shotgun and bow and arrow. 5 miles west of Grand Island, State Spur 430; % mile
south, county road
Hedgefield (70 land; 44 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Fishing. 3
miles east, 1 mile south of Hickman
Iron Horse Trail (210 land acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Deer. Railroad right-of-way purchased
for hunting-tracts marks with boundary signs. Beatrice southeast through DuBois
Killdeer (69 land; 20 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Fishing. 2% miles north
of Martell, county road
Loch Linda (25 land; 35 water acres). Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Fishing in Platte River. V2 mile
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44
NEBRASKAland
SEPTEMBER 1973
45
WILDLIFE
IS A PRODUCT OF THE LAND.
YOU
CAN
HELP THE LAND PRODUCE.
If you don't own land, let
NEBRASKAland
ACRES FOR WILDLIFE
be your guide.
NAFW invites youth to join as
Cover Agents. Enroll an acre
of cover and help the landowner
save that cover. There is no age
limit. You are only as old as you
feel. Anyone can enroll. Ask for
your enrollment form and your
copy of How You Can Add An
Acre.
NAFW invites adults to serve as
Volunteer Sponsors by actively
recruiting Cover Agents in the
local community. Ask for the
NAFW Sponsor's application kit.
Win your certification and be
equipped with tools for the task.
Write to:
ACRES FOR WILDLIFE
Box 30370 Lincoln 68503
north, 2 miles east, 16 mile south, 114 miles east from Alda Interchange 1-80
Northeast Sacramento (40 land acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 5 miles south of Minden, Nebr. 10,
2 miles west, county road
Pawnee Prairie (1,012 land; 8 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. 8 miles west
of Pawnee City, Nebr. 8; 51/2 miles south, county road
Plattsmouth (1,465 land; 35 water acres). Waterfowl. Fishing. Special regulations apply. Contact
area manager. 2 miles northeast of Plattsmouth, U.S. 34, U.S. 73-75, or Nebr. 66
Smartweed (40 land acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Approximately 34 acres of marsh. 216
miles west of Edgar, Nebr. 119; 214 miles south, county road
Teal Lake (66 land; 34 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Fishing. 2 miles
south, 2 miles west, 2 miles south, 2 miles west, 16 mile south of Bluestem Recreation Area
State Park/Recreation Areas
Alexandria State Lakes (384 land; 46 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 4 miles east of Alexandria, Nebr. 76
Branched Oak (4,406 land; 1,800 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel,
Deer. Drinking Water, Fishing. Portion closed to waterfowl hunting as posted. 3 miles north of
Malcolm, access road
Bluestem (483 land; 325 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camp-
ing, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 216 miles west of Sprague, county road
Conestoga Lake (486 land; 230 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Drinking
Water, Fishing. Closed to waterfowl hunting. 2 miles north of Denton, Nebr. 806
Hord Lake (64 land; 20 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Camping,
Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 2 miles east of Central City, U.S. 30, 2 miles south,
county road
Indian Cave State Park (2,800 land acres). Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping. 5 miles east
of Nebr. 67 on Nemaha-Richardson county-line road
Louisville (142 land; 50 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Camping,
Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 16 mile southwest of Louisville, Nebr. 150
Memphis (160 land; 48 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Camping,
Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Just north of Memphis, Nebr. 63
Olive Creek (438 land; 175 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Deer, Squirrel, Rabbit.
Drinking Water, Fishing. 2 miles south, 2 miles west, 1 mile south of Bluestem Lake
Pawnee Lake (1,184 land; 740 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 616 miles west, 2 miles north of Lincoln,
U.S. 6
Stagecoach (412 land; 195 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer. Drinking Water,
Fishing. Closed to waterfowl hunting. 116 miles south, V2 mile west of Hickman
Two Rivers (643 land; 320 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit, Squirrel. Camping,
Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. Controlled waterfowl hunting. Check at area headquar-
ters. Archery deer hunting only. 6 miles south, 1 mile west of Valley
Wagon Train (720 land; 315 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowi, Rabbit, Squirrel, Deer.
Camping, Drinking Water, Trailer Spaces, Fishing. 2 miles east of Hickman, county road
Yankee Hill (728 land; 210 water acres). Pheasant, Quail, Waterfowl, Rabbit. Fishing. 21/2 miles
east, 1 mile south of Denton, county road
Federal Waterfowl Areas
Alberding Lagoon (35 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 21/2 miles south of Clay Center, county
road
County Line Marsh (408 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 4 miles north of Fairmont, U.S. 81;
216 miles east, county road
Eckhardt Lagoon (94 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 8 miles east of Clay Center, Nebr. 41;
4 miles south, county road
Glenville Basin (120 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl. 2% miles south, 2 miles east, 16 mile north
of Glenville
Krause Lagoon (277 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 4 miles west, Vh miles north of Shickley,
county road
Mallard Haven (664 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 2 miles north of Shickley, county road
Massie Lagoon (670 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 3 miles south of Clay Center, Nebr. 14
Moger Lagoon (120 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 3 miles east of Clay Center, Nebr. 41; 3
miles south, county road
Morphy Lagoon (62 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 16 mile west, 1 mile south of Grafton
Pintail Marsh (282 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 3 miles west of Harvard, county road
Rauscher Lagoon (251 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 2 miles south, 21/2 miles west of Graf-
ton, county road. Entrance on north side of section
Rolland Lagoon (129 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 2 miles east, 116 miles south of Sutton,
county road
Sininger Lagoon (160 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 2 miles south of McCool junction,
U.S. 81; 3 miles east, county road
Smith Lagoon (397 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 6 miles south of Clay Center, Nebr. 14;
316 miles east, county road
Theesen Lagoon (80 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 16 mile north of Glenville, county road
Victor Lake (238 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 416 miles north, 16 mile west of Shickley,
county road
Weis Lagoon (160 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 2 miles north of Shickley, county road
Wilkins Lagoon (530 acres). Pheasant, Waterfowl, Rabbit. 1 mile south, 1 mile east of Grafton,
county road
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IN DEFENSE OF HUNTING
(Continued from page 23)which 90,000 deer perished. Ultimately, the population returned to its pre-preserve numbers and stablized more in line with what the environment would support.
While the Kaibab example validly illustrates the need for either natural predation, hunting, or a combination of both to maintain some animal populations at numbers compatible with the habitat, it does not mean that all animal species, or even any animal species if natural predation is not disturbed, require hunting to maintain nature's equilibrium. Too many hunters, I believe, argue that if deer numbers need to be kept in check by hunting, then so do pheasant and polar bear populations. As hunters we must avoid the fallacy of blanketing a specific example over cases where it is not appropriate.
Many defend sport hunting because it is a traditional pastime. Thanksgiving is continued because it is a fine old tradition, and most agree this is good. On the other hand, we no longer burn witches because it is a fine old tradition. For traditions to endure they must have generally accepted merits. A growing number of people in this country no longer believe that sport hunting has these merits. Sport hunting, not hunting per se, is the issue being debated in any case. As a popular practice, sport hunting has its roots in the early part of this century, hardly long enough to qualify it as a tradition. Our forefathers carried their muskets over hill and dale in search of game, but strictly speaking, they could not be considered sport hunters.
One of the most attractive rationales for sport hunting is the pleasure derived from the total experience afield. Though few hunters put this into words, dawn over a frosty duck blind, breaking trail in a new snow, or inhaling the aroma of a crackling cedar fire at day's end are important components of the total hunting picture. Nonhunters respond, and quite legitimately, with the question, "why is it necessary to be hunting to enjoy all those things?"
For me, and probably for most hunters, having a gun or full game pouch while afield does not insure a pleasurable experience. It is, somehow, the thing that sparks my getting out of bed in morning's early hours to make that dawn. How many sunrises do most nonhunters make a special point to get up early for and enjoy? Perhaps it is an intrinsic quirk of man to need a goal to move him to action, even though once underway it becomes a secondary consider ation. While the total experience afield is probably not justification enough for the continuation of sport hunting, it is an integral part of what makes the hunting experience good for the individual.
The companionship aspect of hunting, in my estimation, falls short of being a legitimate reason for the continuation of sport too. It does deserve at least brief comment in passing, though. Sharing that last soggy sandwich or cup of cooled coffee in a rainy goose pit somehow builds a stronger bond between friends or generations than could ever be formed in front of a Sunday afternoon football game on television. While this is a pretty flimsy reason in itself to hunt, it is another of the "goods" that come about because people hunt.
The challenge of hunting, some insist, is the reason that they and old Duke roam the hills. Even though the test of outwitting that mossy old buck or inducing that flock of scaup to make another swing gives most hunters obvious pleasure and satisfaction, I can understand that this explanation would leave most nonhunters a bit cold.
But again, nonhunters ask, "If the challenge of hunting is the reason you hunt, then why not stalk that buck or decoy those ducks, meet the challenge, and then pack up and go home without firing a shot?" Hunters would be hard-pressed to answer that question.
While the challenge of hunting is not what drives most hunters into the field, it does influence hunter behavior —why they prefer to stalk pronghorns on foot rather than from a vehicle, to call ducks over decoys rather than jump them on potholes, and shoot quail over a competent pointer rather than (Continued on page 53).
What to do
PROBABLY the biggest event of September and of the year for many people around the state is the big Nebraska State Fair, expanded this year to 10 action-packed, fun-filled, days.
A slate of top performers and enter tainment is scheduled for the stage shows, and most activities during the fair, which runs from August 31 through September 9, will be expanded. A teenage rock festival August 31 kicks off the stage productions, followed on subsequent nights by Pat Boone September 1 and 2, Sonny James September 3 and 4, Charlie Pride, 6 and 7, and stars of the Lawrence Welk show, 8 and 9.
Three county fairs also start or extend into the month, with the Brown County fair at Johnstown running September 1 through 3, Morrill County Fair at Bridgeport August 30 through September 3, and the Richardson County Fair at Humboldt September 11 through 14.
Of course, with plenty of warm weather and clear skies on tap, water recreation will be plenty popular with all ages, but one special event will be the running of the 4th annual Governor's Cup Regatta at Lake McConaughy the first three days of the month. Fancy craft from a wide area will participate in this exciting yet graceful event.
Horse racing, a graceful sport of another sort, will also hold forth during 50 the month, with the Columbus track holding over from August through September 25, when the thoroughbreds then move to South Sioux City starting the 26th where they remain until November 3. Horses are main ingredients in another major event during the month when the Ak-Sar-Ben Rodeo gets underway on September 21 and holds forth through the 29th.
During part of that same period, September 22 and 23, some of the horse's replacements of years ago will be displayed at Wilcox. There, a fantastic collection of early-day steam and gas engines and machines will delight antique-minded people as they huff and puff and do their stuff.
More modern vehicles, attuned more to speed and thrills than their counter parts from days gone by, will gather at Eagle Raceway near Lincoln on September 2 and 3. The National Cham pion Stock Car races will be the purpose, and reasons why car racing has grown to be the biggest spectator sport in the nation will be easily evident from the action there.
Of course, there will be entertainment of another sort at several community festivals and fairs. Several big ones are slated during the month, in cluding the Apple Jack Festival in Nebraska City on September 15. Touted as the state's apple-growing capital be cause of the extensive orchards in the area, Nebraska City goes all out with apple-related goings on, including the crowning of an apple-cheeked queen.
There is a fall festival in Arcadia on September 2 and 3; Hay Days in Cozad 6 through 8, the fall festival at Welfleet and annual Market Day Festival in Edison also on the 8th, annual Milo Day in Carleton the 14th, the Steele City Flea Market on September 16, and the Kass County King Korn Karnival in Plattsmouth for four days starting September 20.
A special festival, but of another type, is again being planned by the Fontenelle Forest Guild. A wide variety of booths will be set up with a tentative list including crafts, demonstrations, ecology, wine making, glassblowing, and dozens of others. The festival, which will be at 64th and Dodge in Omaha, will be on Sunday, September 9 from noon until 5 p.m.
Another special exhibit involving environmental topics is slated for both Joslyn and Sheldon art galleries. Built around a theme of "A Sense of Place", the exhibit will feature 200 paintings at the two locations from September 23 through October 28. The purpose is to bring American artists to the aid of ecology to explore artists' relationships with nature, and see their interpretation of it. The show will consist of land scapes drawn from the permanent collections of the two institutions, paintings from a book entitled "A Sense of Place" by Alan Gussow, and works by living American artists.
The Nebraska Mineral and Gem Club of Omaha will hold its annual show September 2 through 4 at the Holiday Inn at 72nd and Grover. In addition to displays of jewelry, artifacts, fossils, rock carving and minerals, there will be demonstrations on casting, jewelry making, stone cutting and polishing. September 8 will be the finale of North Platte's centennial celebration, with a parade featuring bands, floats and other colorful entries, followed by a ball and birthday party. Ten of the nation's top trap shooters will also be on hand for a Blue-Gray shootout.
Hunters have many special days during the month, with cottontail, squirrel, grouse, antelope, and archery deer and antelope seasons opening. Regulations are established for all game seasons now, and 1973 Hunting Guides should be available from vendors across the state the latter part of September.
List of Events 1 —Cottontail season opens, statewide 1 —Squirrel season opens, statewide 1-2-Old Home Town Festival, Brainard 1-3-4th Annual Governor's Cup Regatta, Ogallala 1-3 —Omaha Royals vs. Indianapolis, baseball, Omaha 1-9 —Nebraska State Fair, Lincoln 1-25-Horse Racing, Columbus 2-3-Arcadia Fall Festival, Arcadia 2-3-National Champion Stock Car Races, Eagle 2-4 —Omaha Gem and Mineral Show, Omaha 3-Annual Labor Day Celebration, Wausa 3-Annual Labor Day Celebration, Schuyler 6-8-Hay Days, Cozad 8-Market Day Festival, Edison 8-Fall Festival, Wei Meet 8-Finale, Centennial Celebration, North Platte 9 —6th Annual Squirrel Shoot, Cairo 10 —24th Annual Meat Animal Exposition, Norfolk 13-15 —Jaycee Fallfest, Broken Bow 14-Annual Milo Day, Carleton 15-Apple Jack Festival, Nebraska City 16-Flea Market, Steele City 15-18-Nebraskaland Field Dog Club trial, Halsey 15-Archery Deer Season Opens, Statewide, Through December 31 18-Archery Antelope Season Opens, Statewide, Through October 31 20-23-Kass Kounty King Korn Karnival, Plattsmouth 22-30-Rifle Antelope Season, Designated Units 22-Grouse Season Opens, Designated Areas 22-23 —Stratman Steam and Gas Engine Show, Wilcox 26-Nov. 3-Horse Racing, South Sioux City 29-30 —Prairie Schooner Fall Square Dance Festival, Sidney NEBRASKAland
IN DEFENSE OF HUNTING
(Continued from page 49)just stumble onto them as best they can.
An intrinsic element of most animal populations is the production of a surplus. This surplus constitutes those numbers above what is required to maintain an animal population at its current level. If not harvested by hunters, this surplus will be lost to other mortality factors such as disease, starvation, stress or predators. The harvest of this surplus and its utilization as a recreational resource seems to be a valid justification for the continuation of sport hunting.
Wallace Grange, noted wildlife biologist and manager, commented on the harvesting of game surpluses by hunters:
"Some people hold that Nature is ever kind, ever considerate, and never wasteful. On the contrary, anyone with eyes to see and who has adequate field experience knows that the forces of nature are often cruel, highly inconsiderate of the individual however concerned over racial welfare, and that waste is the law of nature except insofar as the conservation of energy law results in maintenance of matter through new combinations of the elements. In other words, (and this needs to be repeated again and again), it is impossible to stockpile game. Abundance cannot be pyramided upward, and still upward, for natural laws demand that an abundant, uncontrolled population shall fall/'
What Grange is saying is that if hunters do not skim this surplus from the top of the populations, other forces will, and nature, in general, is less concerned with humane, painless deaths. Just as we pick fruit from trees every fall without threatening the next year's crop, most game populations can be harvested every year without endangering their numbers.
Aldo Leopold, famed conservationist of the first half of this century, dealt at length with the roots and reasons of hunting. His writings suggest one of the more significant justifications of sport hunting.
Leopold believed that there were five components or stages of the recreational process, and that most outdoorsmen pass through or experience each: (1) the reducing of physical objects that the outdoors men may seek, find, capture and carry away as possessions, to-serve as symbols of achievement, (2) the value of isolation in nature or the need for wilderness, a value that diminishes with increased use, (3) the value of fresh air and change in scene, a value that mass use neither destroys nor dilutes, (4) the perception of natural processes or nature study, the first groping of the mass-mind toward perception of wild things, and (5) the sense of husbandry, or the art of management of wild things applied to the land by some person of perception.
Leopold felt that, "the development of each individual repeats the evolutionary history of the race. This is true of mental as well as physical things. The trophy hunter is the caveman reborn. Trophy hunting is the prerogative of youth, racial or individual, and nothing to apologize for. It would appear, in short, that the rudimentary grades of outdoor recreation consume their resource-base; the higher grades, at least to a degree, create their own satisfactions with little or no attrition of the land or life."
What Leopold is saying is that recreationists, including hunters, all begin as consumers of the resource and do not attempt to understand it, replenish it or preserve it. Ultimately, and ideally, the recreationist becomes involved in each of the other four components. As the hunter or recreationist matures psychologically he be comes less of a consumer of wildlife and more of a conservationist and wildlife husbander.
Obviously all hunters do not follow this developmental progression, but many do. Many of this country's most dedicated and influential conservationists began their interest in wild things by hunting them. Theodore Roosevelt, Starker Leopold, George Bird Grinnell, Ding Darling and many other prominent conservationists all hunted at an early age. Their contributions to the preservation of the resource is immeasurable.
Jose Ortega y Gasset, Spain's leading philosopher of the 20th Century, expanded on the more deep-rooted reasons for sport hunting in his text Meditations on Hunting.
"Thus the principle which inspires hunting
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for sport is that of artificially perpetuating, as a possibility for man, a situation which is archaic in the highest degree: that early state in which, already human, he still lived within the orbit of animal existence.
"It is possible that I may have offended some hunter who presumes that my definition of hunting implies that I have treated him as an animal. But I doubt that any real hunter will be offended. For all the grace and delight of hunting are rooted in this fact: that man, projected by his inevitable progress away from his ancestral proximity to animals, vegetables, and minerals —in sum, to Nature —takes pleasure in the artificial return to it, the only occupation that permits him something like a vacation from his human condition."
Thus, according to Gasset, sport hunting fulfills a deep-seated psychological need of man —a temporary return to his more primitive origin.
In summary then, the continuation of sport hunting would seem to be justified as a means of harvesting a renewable resource, as a tool to maintain some game populations at a level compatible with their environment, as a valuable manner in which to instill a conservation conscience in each new generation, and on the grounds of satisfying a fundamental human need. As hunters it would probably behoove us to save sentimental and esthetic considerations for the end-of-the-day fireside. The same should probably be said for economic and tradition justifications.
The time has arrived, as other writers have suggested, to recognize in protectionist groups the same desire we as hunters foster-to preserve the well being of our wildlife. What we need now is to present in calm, logical fashion the reasons why sport hunting should continue. Also we need to weed from our ranks, perhaps by legislation, those hunters who by their actions have given every permit buyer a black eye.
Forty years ago, in the text Game Man agement, Aldo Leopold assigned himself to this very problem that confronts us even more today.
"We sportsmen are paying the piper for several decades of stagnation in the development of hunting controls. We have been fighting a rear-guard action for the very existence of sports afield. If we continue to regard the issue as a battle, we shall probably continue our retreat. But, if we can see the issue as a mutual problem, confronting not only ourselves but also farmers, landowners, and protectionists, and soluble by their mutual cooperation, then a brighter outcome may be anticipated."
YOUNG HUNTER PROGRAM
(Continued from page 25)the club grounds of the Nebraska Muzzle Loading Rifle Association north of Cairo. George is a long-time member of the group as well as being a collector and builder of the one-shot firearms of earlier years. He shoots the muzzle loaders too, but on this trip we used modern arms to improve chances for success.
We walked the last quarter-mile to the grounds as a February thaw had turned the trail to mud. Then we had to cover a lot of good rabbit habitat before flushing the first cottontail. Jim was very patient through the extra time and effort required for a photographic expedition. Neither that, nor the extra walking, nor the slow hunting reduced his enthusiasm or interest.
It was not just by coincidence that we were using these grounds. The association, centered in Grand Island, had accepted the task of conducting a pilot project for the Young Hunter Training program. George and Jim were the first pair to engage in the training. Their club grounds, with good riverbottom habitat, offered some of the best chances for a successful hunt.
Club participation in the Young Hunter Training program is not a deeply involved operation. The main function is to help will ing trainers find beginning hunters who are in need of assistance. This can be assigned to one selected member who would register trainers and trainees and help them pair off for field work. He would also be in charge of publicity required to attract participants. Another task is to maintain supplies of training literature and the arm patches which are awarded to identify participants.
Please don't confuse the Young Hunter Training with hunter safety training, which is offered as an organized course. Hunter safety training involves one or two instructors and a class of students going through a series of lectures, demonstrations and perhaps some target practice. Because of time limitations, the course must concentrate on knowledge of guns and ammunition and the safe handling of this equipment. Few other subjects receive major treatment unless the course is significantly expanded beyond the minimum number of hours. There is no chance for the student to be observed in the field under actual hunting conditions or to teach hunting techniques. You will be for tunate if the young hunter you train has had the safety course. Go ahead and give a graduate course in safety as you give actual hunter training. If you have not had hunter safety training yourself, be ready to learn a point or two from your young friend. Through your years of hunting you may have developed one or two dangerous habits that are identified in the basic course.
To the personnel who originated the program, the prospects and economics of deal ing with individual trainers throughout the state appeared unreasonable. It was decided that training should center around volunteer groups in local communities so that the state coordinator can work with a club through its selected coordinator. The Game and Parks Commission offers unique arm patches and all available literature related to hunting. These supplies are to be maintained by the club and issued to participants in training. If the available literature proves inadequate for the program, the state coordinator will prepare a manual or guide.
There are no films, lectures or other special meetings required for the people in training. The state coordinator can meet with the club coordinator and relate all the details. If desired, the state representative can present the proposal to the entire club membership. While the most likely group will be a local hunting club, any group with a strong representation of sportsmen in its ranks could logically adopt the program. The club coordinator would likely provide the spark that makes a success of the venture. The state coordinator will work with any local coordinator, including an individual without club affiliation. A lack of club affiliation would not hinder an aggressive coordinator. As no meetings are in volved, no group action is actually necessary. It is a matter of pairing willing instructors with beginners.
The thrust of the Young Hunter Training program is simply to encourage experienced, mature hunters to take a beginner in tow and provide the necessary guidance. No experience as a teacher is required of the trainer. The sportsman simply invites the beginner along for a series of hunts to show how it's done.
There are many interested youngsters whose parents either don't hunt, don't have enough time, or are no longer physically able. This situation too often leaves the would-be hunter with only a choice of go ing out with other kids to learn by trial and error. He is likely to be discouraged by poor success, some undue hazards or a scrape with game law enforcement. It is much better for a boy or girl to have an experienced guide who knows the laws and hazards involved, as well as how to find the desired game.
So you think you are ready to accept the
Trading Post
Acceptance of advertising implies no endorsement of products or services. Classified Ads: 20 cents a word, minimum order $4.00. October 1973 closing date, August 10. Send classified ads to: Trading Post, NEBRASKA land, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, Nebraska 68503 P.O. Box 30370. DOGS AKC German Shorthair pups whelped Jan. 1-6. One female whelped 9-28-72—one female 3 years old. Good hunting stock. Phone (402) 873-6932, Nebraska City, Nebraska. AKC hunting dogs. Irish setter, English springer spaniel. Pups and dogs. Breeding stock and stud service. Also Westie and Basenji. Kirulu Kennels, Hebron, Nebraska 68370. Phone (402) 768-6237. AKC Registered German Shorthair pups. Whelped June 18, 1973. Both parents excellent hunters. James E. Nichols, 2312 Anna, North Platte, Ne braska 69101. Phone (308) 532-5964. AKC Weimaraners. Blues and greys, hunting and show material. Champion bitch. Whelped June 24, 1973. Robert E. Ihm, 2502 West 4th Street. Phone (402) 463-7995. ENGLISH pointers. Excellent gun dogs. Pups, dogs, and stud service. M. D. Mathews, M.D., St. Paul, Nebraska 68873. ENGLISH Setters: Pups, started dogs and stud service. Mississippi Zev, Wonsover, Commander and Crockett Field trial bloodlines. E. L. Bar- tholomew, Ainsworth, Nebraska 69210. HUNTING DOGS: German shorthairs, English pointers, Weimaraners, English, Irish, and Gordon setters, Chesapeakes, Labradors, and golden re trievers. Registered pups, all ages, $75 each. Robert Stevenson, Orleans, Nebraska 68966. STARTED English pointers—3 to 9 months. Very nice, $75 and up. Also a few older. Roy Jines, Emmet, Nebraska 68734. Phone (402) 336-1779. QUALITY trained and partially trained hunting dogs ready for the 1973 hunting season. Limited number of English setters, pointers, and brittanies. Darrell Yentes, 1118 McMillan Street, Holdrege, Nebraska 68949. Phone (308) 995-8570 after 5:30 p.m. MISCELLANEOUS "A" FRAME cabin. 1184 square feet: $1950. ma terial. Purchase locally. Complete plans, instruc tion manual and material list: $5.00. Moneyback guarantee. Specify plan #1501. "Dependable Products," Box #113, Vista, California 92083. AFRICANS. Large $12/1,000 postpaid. 25* extra beyond 3rd zone. Clif's Worm Hatchery, 1801 Alabama Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044. ATTENTION grouse hunters: Grouse safari in the Sand Hills, C. W. Gumb, Burwell, Nebraska 68823 Phone (308) 346-5077. ATTENTION: Pheasant, quail hunters. Reserve a modern cabin near hunting area. Electric heat, fireplace, kitchenette, bath, one to three bedrooms. Country-Lakeview Cabins, Alexandria, Nebraska 68303. Phone (402) 749-4016. BEAUTIFUL year-round cabin on Missouri River near Ponca State Park. Dave Hogan, Ponca, Ne braska 68770. Phone (402) 755-2511. CHUCK Wagon Gang" records. Giant package. Five new collector's longplay stereo albums. 50 great old gospel songs sung by the original group. $9.95 postpaid. Keepsakes, 202NL, Carlsbad, Texas 76934. DECOYS, decoy molds, expandable plastic, decoy making supplies. For information send 25* to Don Novak, Novak Mfg. Company, 5116 South 18th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68107. Phone (402) 734- 1044. DECOYS, solid plastics, ducks $16.00; geese- floaters, $40.00; full body stake-out $45.00 Mc- Cauley Decoy Co., 6911 North 31st Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68112. FOR sale: Vizsla pups registered (born May 20th). Golden and silver pheasant chicks. Don Phillipps Burwell, Nebraska 68823. Phone (308) 346-5175 FREE catalog of dog accessories and hunting equip- ment. Write Bill Boatman & Co., 241 Maple St Dept. 94C, Bainbridge, Ohio 45612. GOVERNMENT lands — Low as $1.25 acre! Buy, lease or homestead . . . Free details! Lands Digest, Box 25561-PT, Seattle, Washington 98125. HOW much are your bottles worth? "Bottle Col lector's Handbook—Pricing Guide" identifies, prices over 2,500 collectible bottles. $3.95 postpaid. (Guaranteed!) Infobooks, Box 5001-NL, San An gelo, Texas 76901. IDEAL 5-acre ranch. Lake Conchas, New Mexico. $3,475. No down. No interest. $29 monthly. Vaca tion paradise. Hunt, camp, fish. Money maker. Free brochure. Ranchos: Box 2003RW, Alameda, California 94501. MAKE money on government surplus. How and where to buy. Directory of surplus stores, sale terms. Mail order items. Send $1.00 for booklet to Specialty Merchandise Company, 7659 South 42nd Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68147. METAL Detectors—Thinking of treasure hunting? Use the metal detector the professionals use, a Garrett. Free literature. Spartan Shop, 335 North FremonL Nebraska 68025. Phone (402) /21-94J8. "PREPARE for driver's test." 100 questions and answers based on the newest Nebraska Driver's S? * Pjastic decoys. Original Do-It-Yourself Decoy-Making Kit. All species available. Catalog Decoys Unlimited, Box 69E, Clinton, Iowa 52732. TAXIDERMY CREATIVE Taxidermy. Modern methods and life- like workmanship on all fish and game since 1935, also tanning, rugs, and deerskin products. Joe Voges, Naturecrafts, 925 4th Corso, Nebraska City Nebraska 68410. Phone (402) 873-5491. KARL Schwarz Master Taxidermists. Mounting of game heads - birds - fish - animals - fur rugs robes - tanning buckskin. Since 1910. 424 South 13th Street, Dept. A., Omaha, Nebraska 68102. TAXIDERMY work—big-game heads, fish-and-bird mounting; rug making, hide tanning, 36 years experience. Visitors welcome. Floyd Houser Sutherland, Nebraska 69165. Phone (308) 386-4780' TODAY'S BEST ADVERTISING INVESTMENT WRITE: NEBRASKAland Att: Advertising Department P.O. Box 30370 Lincoln, Nebraska 68503 CLOSING DATES: Black and White; 5th of second month preceding date of issue. COLOR: First of second month pre- ceding date of issue. DISPLAY ADVERTISING RATES Color: Full-page outer back cover-$565; full-page inner back cover-$515; full-page inner front cover -$515; full-page inside magazine-$455; 2/3 page -$325; 1/2 page-$259; 1/3 page (minimum size for color)-$136 plus $20 for each extra color. Black and White: full page-$400; 2/3 page-$270; 1/2 page-$204; 1/3 page-$136; 1/4 page-$113; 1/6 page-$75; one-column inch-$15.20.OUTDOOR NEBRASKAland of the Air
SUNDAY KHAS Hastings (1230) 6:45 a.m. KMMJ Grand Island (750) 7:00 a.m. KBRL McCoolc (1300) 8:15 a.m. KRFS Superior (1600) 9:45 a.m. KXXX Colby, Kan. (790) 10:15 a.m. KLMS Lincoln (1480) 10:15 a.m. KRGI Grand Island (1430) 10:33 a.m. KODY North Platte (1240) 10:45 a.m. KOTD Plattsmouth (100) 12 Noon KCOW Alliance (1400) 12:15 p.m. KFOR Lincoln (1240) 12:45 p.m. KCNI Broken Bow (1280) 1:15 p.m. KAMI Cozad (1580) 2:45 p.m. KAWL York (1370) 3:30 p.m. KUVR Holdrege (1380) 4:45 p.m. KGFW Kearney (1340) 5:45 p.m. KtfA Shenandoah, la. (960) 7:15 p.m. KNEB Scottsbluff (960) 9:05 p.m. FRIDAY KTCH Wayne (1590) 3:45 p.m. KVSH Valentine (940) 5:10 p.m. KHUB Fremont (1340) 5:15 p.m. WJAG Norfolk (780) 5:30 p.m. KBRB Ainsworth (1400) 6:00 p.m. SATURDAY KJSK Columbus (900) 6:00 a.m. KICS Hastings (1550) 6:15 a.m. KEYR Scottsbluff (690) 7:45 a.m. KICX McCook (1360) 8:30 a.m. KRNY Kearney (1460) 8:30 a.m. KJNC Falls City (1230) 8:45 a.m. 55BL ildlte7 "340) 15a.m. KC5R Chadron (610) 11:45 a.m. KGMT Fairbury (1310) 12:45 p.m. K!H 2Nei" n350) 4:30 p.m. KNLV Ord (1060) 4:45 p.m. AN Phiiiipsburg, Kan. (1490) 5:15 p.m. 52K Scottsbluff (1320) 5:40 p.m. "SMNS Sioux City, la. (620) 6:10 p.m. SlmPM ie,ina*on (80) 9:15 p.m. KJSK-FM Columbus (101,1) 9:45 p.m. DIVISION CHIEFS Dale R, Bree, Parks Harold K. Edwards, Resource Services Glen R. Foster, Fish Production Carl E. Gettmann, Law Enforcement Jack Hanna, Budget and Fiscal Ken Johnson, Game Earl R. Kendle, Research Lloyd Steen, Personnel Lyle K. Tanderup, Engineering Bob Thomas, Fish Management Delvin Whiteley, Federal Aid Jim Wofford, Information and Education CONSERVATION OFFICERS Ainsworth—Max Showalter, 387-1960 Albion—Robert Kelly, 395-2538 Alliance—Richard Furley, 762-2024 Alliance—Richard Seward, 762-4317 Alma—William F. Bonsall, 928-2313 Arapahoe—Don Schaepler, 962-7818 Auburn—James Newcome, 274-3644 Bassett—Leonard Spoering, 684-3645 Bassett—Bruce Wiebe, 684-3867 Benkelman—H. Lee Bowers, 423-2893 Bridgeport—Joe Ulrtclv 262-0541 Broken Bow—Gene Jeffries, 872-5953 Columbus—Lyman Wilkinson, 564-4375 Crowford—Cecil Avey, 665-2517 Creighton—Gary R. Ralston, 358-3411 Crofton—John Schuckman, 388-4421 David City—Lester H. Johnson, 367-4037 Fairbury—Larry Bauman, 729-3734 Fremont—Andy Nielsen, 721-2482 Geneva—Kenneth L. Adkisson, 759-4241 Gering—Jim McCole, 436-2686 Grand Island—Fred Salak, 384-0582 Hastings— Norbert Kampsnider, 462-8953 Hay Springs—Marvin E. Kampbell 638-5262 Lexington—Loren A. Noecker, 324-2845 Lincoln—Dayton Shultis, 488-8164 Lincoln—Ross Oestmann, 489-8363 Lincoln—Leroy Orvis, 488-1663 Milford—Dale Bruha, 761-4531 Norfolk—Marion Shafer, 371-2031 Norfolk—Robert Downing, 371-2675 North Platte—Dwight Allbery, 532-2753 North Platte—Gail Woodside, 532-0279 Ogallala—Parker Erickson, 284-2992 Omaha—Dick Wilson, 334-1234 Omaha—Roger A. Guenther, 333-3368 O'Neill—Roger W. Hurdle, 336-3988 Ord—Gerald Woodgate, 728-5060 Oshkosh—Donald D. Hunt, 772-3697 Plattsmouth—Larry D. Elston, 296-3562 Riverdole—Bill Earnest, 893-2571 Sidney—Raymond Frandsen, 254-4438 Stapleton—John D. Henderson, 636-2430 Syracuse—Mick Gray, 269-3351 Tekamah—Richard Efston, 374-1698 Valentine—Elvin Zimmerman, 376-3674
task. What should you teach? The basics are safety, courtesy, and sporting hunting techniques, with priorities probably running in that order. There is little to gain in developing another hunter whose only concern is to put game in the bag. We already have enough slob hunters who would stick a gun out the car window and ground-swat a covey of quail in a farmer's front yard. Surely you will talk-up the techniques for success in order to maintain the youngster's interest, but you will demonstrate continuously by your actions and a few appropriate comments, if needed, that safety and courtesy are foremost.
Consider safe conduct to be that which prevents accidents, and courteous conduct to be that which prevents irritations among companions, landowners and the general public. The ultimate goal is to not let these people even think that their lives, properties or rights are being endangered or violated. With this approach your young hunter will become a goodwill ambassador for all sportsmen. He must realize the importance of good relations with landowners.
The hunting you teach can be simply your favorite techniques for the game that you prefer, provided that these techniques meet the requirements for safety, courtesy and sportsmanship. For beginners, however, some methods are more appropriate than others. Pheasant hunting probably should start with small parties working fencelines and small patches of cover where you can keep a close watch on the novice. Save the gang hunts in big cornfields for hunters with plenty of experience. For some youngsters you will need to start with identification, how to tell the rooster pheasant from the hen and other birds, taking advantage of all the hints the birds can give you. These include the birds' appearances, sounds, habits and the signs they leave. Methods of flushing and retrieving the birds should rank high in priorities. Teach the proper range for clean kills. Cover field-dressing so that the game arrives home in condition to be prized at any dinner table.
Some beginning hunters will already know how to shoot and handle a gun. As we have said, they might even have a few pointers for you if they have just completed a hunter safety course. Others, starting from scratch, may have to borrow a gun. In fact, the beginning shooter should try a few different types of guns before investing in one of his own. Whatever he uses, satisfy your self that the gun is in good condition and is combined with ammunition that is right for the gun and for whatever game you are seeking.
After selecting the shooting equipment, go easy on introducing other equipment. Very little of it is essential for beginning hunts. A youngster of limited means could be discouraged by talk of two hundred dollars worth of special clothing and gadgets. Build the beginner's confidence with the skills and techniques that only you, the experienced hunter, can provide.
9 LOCATIONS
COLUMBUS
(402)564-1492
KEARNEY
(308)237-3141
NORTH PLATTE
(308) 532-9090
FREMONT
(402)727-1110
LINCOLN
(402) 434-3171 or 475-4971
OGALLALA
(308) 284-3625
GRAND ISLAND
(308) 384-1330 or 384-7770
NORFOLK
(402)371-4430
OMAHA
(402) 393-3950
