Speak Up

Water Safety

Sir /I am writing in regard to the drownings in the state recreation areas of Nebraska. The latest was at Fremont State Recreation Area. Swimming is one of the best "fun" sports there is for a family.

Fremont has a free public beach and lake to swim in, however there are no lifeguards.

The swimming lake at Two Rivers does have lifeguards, however the hours are limited from 1 to 5 due to what the state says, they are cutting back on cost. Also, the Louisville State Lakes have no lifeguards. No Money!

The state, however, is shoving another $104,000 toward camping facilities at Ogallala. This money would be spent much better, I would think, for lifeguards to save lives or to build a pool at Two Rivers State Recreation Area, which would be a lot safer.

Chadron and Ponca Parks have pools. How come the state is always shoving money to western Nebraska when the population is in eastern Nebraska? Let us hope the state legislators and the state Game Commission wake up before another person drowns due to very poor management.

Allen Arp Yutan, Nebraska

No one wants to sacrifice safety for needless facilities, but different communities have many needs which they give priority to. And, the state agencies cannot spend money wherever they want to, as there are also priorities here. Unfortunately, safety is not something that can be easily measured, whereas the need for a camping area or other such facility, can be seen. It comes down to hard facts where money is concerned, and there are many more requests and services than funds available. Also, presence of lifeguards cannot insure safety — drownings occur even when they are on duty. Some common-sense rules would almost eliminate water-related accidents, such as not swimming alone, not going into water too deep for 4 the person's ability, not relying on flotation devices in deep water, and many others. The individual should have the primary responsibility for safety, and to take as many precautions as possible. (Editor)

* * * Reap the Wind

Sir / I was reading Lois Allen's story, "Wind on the Hill" about windmills in Nebraska. Nebraska and all the prairie states are famed for their steady winds. I should think that wind would be the best natural resource, and the safest, for providing electric power. Certainly it would be interesting to see the findings of some good, innovative young engineer's study and figures on it. If every little community had its own power station with its own windmills —electricity wouldn't have to be sent such long, expensive distances as it is now. No matter what people say about how cheap and safe nuclear power is, uranium isn't infinitely abundant, and no one seems to want the wastes buried in their neighborhoods to leach down into their underground water supplies. So, wind power makes sense —especially with some funds put into research and development of creative new systems.

Joanne Ashley Manlius, N.Y.

P.S. I've wanted to live in Nebraska someday in a solar heated house powered by a windmill.

I think that is a desire shared by many people, and it seems that at long last, steps are being taken to make "natural" power a reality. We should all get behind all research of solar and wind systems. You might be out here soon. (Editor)

* * * What is Fencerow?

Sir / When pioneers laid out this land in 40, 80, 160 acres or larger, the farmer usually put in a fence for the dividing line, with a post every rod and 4 strands of barb wire.

All that is left of many of these fences is a lot of broken posts and rusty wire. Today a single strand of electric fence does a better job.

What I'm getting at is wildlife is in trouble; we need more cover for pheasants, quail, rabbits and birds. If we could get the farmers to replace that old fencerow, with a row of cedar trees, it would sure help wildlife, and wouldn't that make the farm look beautiful?

Ten years after he planted these trees, his boys and neighbor boys could walk along these trees to look at and hunt pheasants and rabbits, and the younger generation would have it to enjoy.

I believe we could get help from the Game Department or the A.S.C.S. to help share the cost of planting the trees. If we want wildlife to survive, we must do something to help. The reason I mention cedar trees is that they are shallow rooted, and you can raise a crop close to them, and all wildlife sure loves to use the cedars when the wind is blowing and snow drifting.

If we could just get a few miles started and show people how beautiful the old fencerow could look, I believe more miles would come easy. But, they should not be right along the road. That is for the road hunter to shoot from the car when it snows. Let's get them planted back in the fields.

Einar Anderson Edgar, Nebraska A tremendous idea. It is tragic watching all the shelterbelts being ripped out after they have served so well all these years. Yet, few if any are being replaced. Fence-rows of trees sounds like a beautifying and functional project that certainly would help wildlife. Let's hope it catches on. (Editor) * * * Cover is Going

Sir / According to my travels in Nebraska, wildlife has become an endangered species. Each year all types of wildlife seem harder to find. I know it isn't just my imagination. Just last Saturday I watched bulldozers clear out a long shelterbelt for a pivot irrigation. Last fall that shelterbelt flowed with pheasants. Now it's gone! And that was just one of many I have seen cleared off this summer. Last winter I noticed more frozen and starved wildlife of all kinds. Why? Because we're destroying acres of natural habitat and not replacing any.

Talking about it won't get much done, but sometimes it starts gears turning. ! would favor more split seasons and very short seasons. There are 4-H clubs, gun clubs, Boy Scouts and other groups which could start rebuilding habitat areas all over Nebraska. We also have many people needing work. What more worthwhile project than hiring people to resupply habitat for wildlife?

Terry Greger Central City, Nebraska

What we need is more people concerned about the problem of wildlife, and willing to do something about it. A major step was taken with passage of LB861, the Habitat Bill, which will mean more funds for all sorts of habitat in the future. But, it isn't the final answer, so keep on observing and talking. (Editor)

NEBRASKAland Magazine invites all readers to submit their comments, suggestions, and gripes to Speak Up. Each month the magazine will publish as many letters as space permits. Pictures are welcome. NEBRASKAland reserves the right to edit and condense letters. — Editor. NEBRASKAland

"The Glorious Fourth. An Old Fashioned Day, an Old Fashioned Time, an Old Fashioned Crowd."

These headlines, published over one hundred years ago in the Grand Island Times, serve to announce the Independence Day festivities planned for Fort Hartsuff State Historical Park this July 4th. The Fort was a focal point for such celebrations in the 1870's, and it is hoped that spirit can be brought to life in our Bicentennial year.

"Our Glorious Fourth" was a day of great importance to early Nebraskans. Settlers and homesteaders far from urban centers came together to commemorate the birthday of the nation in whatever way circumstances would permit.

This year's celebration at Fort Hart-suff will begin at dawn, with a black-powder anvil-firing. The morning's activities include an ecumenical religious service followed by a picnic lunch on the grounds. Demonstrations of traditional crafts, including quilting, horse-shoeing, spinning and such entertainments as square-dancing and horse-pulling, are scheduled throughout the afternoon. Foot races and a tug-of-war are being organized for those desiring exercise, with free lemonade to quench the thirst. A number of small groups will provide music of various types, and the work of local artists will be on display. The celebration is expected to continue until sunset.

* * *

Activities in honor of the Bicentennial are also being planned for the other state historical parks. Currently on schedule are a crafts fair and soap and candle-making demonstrations at Arbor Lodge; demonstrations by blacksmiths, wheelwrights and other craftspersons at Ft. Kearny; the sight, smell and taste of Oregon Trail cookery at Ash Hollow. Finalized plans will be made public in the June issue of Afield and Afloat, next month's issue of Nebraskaland, and in local newspapers.

NEBRASKAland

THE HABITAT PLAN HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

New funds for enhancement of wildlife lands will be a reality soon. While not the complete answer, this money should slow the tide of cover losses

by Harold Edwards, Chief, Resources Services

OF CURRENT INTEREST to many sportsmen and women, even some children, is the future of fish and wildlife in our state. Over the last several years, the governing body of this agency, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, has become more and more concerned about diminishing wildlife numbers and the reasons for that decline. One of the greatest reasons is related to wildlife habitat — the place wildlife lives and reproduces.

In February of 1975, a Wildlife Habitat Conference was held in Lincoln to discuss the problem of diminishing wildlife habitat and what could be done. The outgrowth of that conference was the formulation of the Wildlife Habitat Plan, as expressed in LB861, which was recently passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the Governor.

As expressed in the Habitat Plan, the intent is to work to preserve and enhance wildlife habitat across the state. It would seem that $2.9 million in new funds per year should make a significant impact, given a reasonable period of time. It behooves us to not expect miracles, for many things are happening to wildlife habitat. Earlier federal agricultural production control programs are gone. Even this winter, many areas of prime pheasant and quail cover have been removed from across our state. Wetlands continue to be drained or squeezed down in size. The rate of hab'at decline will probably exceed anything that the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission can do to counter this onrush of change, but it is necessary that all interested persons understand the full picture, even as we labor with the help of interested citizens to keep a reasonable habitat reservoir. With these broad-ranging realities, we will do our best to extract maximum value for minimum dollars, as granted and directed in LB861.

The plan has essentially three phases of action—acquisition, the Natural Resources District (NRD) private lands program, and the developments of better habitat on public lands, including currently owned or controlled department wildlife lands.

The acquisition phase is to be allocated approximately $900,000 of the new funds each year. When combined with available federal funds, 3,500 acres a year could be acquired, assuming willing sellers of good or potentially good critical habitat lands. Of interest to some will be the fact that by law, according (Continued on page 48)

Young Wildlife

by Greg Beaumont

For the young, life is not a game of spring but a struggle for space, food and survival

SPRING IS THE SEASON of renewal, the time for new life; it is yet another beginning in the endless cycle of competition between the myriad of life forms in every plant and animal community.

At first glance the explosion of new life in wetland, prairie and woodland seems haphazard and out of control, like a factory gone beserk. Suddenly, animal populations begin to skyrocket.

But this is the best of times, and the land in spring and summer can support many demanding mouths. Each year more life is produced than the earth can possibly 10 NEBRASKAland

  12 NEBRASKAland JUNE 1976 sustain on a year-round basis. It is a necessary surplus, for the wildlife community must not only replenish its winter-thinned ranks and feed the on-going demands of established predators, it must also maintain a critical balance of numbers so that enough of each species will survive the year to reproduce during the following season.

Unlike man, nature is amazingly adept at such complicated bookwork. In a balanced ecosystem, each life form —from bacterium to bison —is given a chance, for each performs some vital service crucial to the welfare of the entire community.

For the numbers game to succeed in a world of brutal competition, no species can be so disadvantaged that it easily loses the struggle to survive; and none can be allowed to become so successful (man is a notable exception) that it begins to eliminate others.

To survive, each species must reproduce sufficient numbers each season to accommodate a high mortality ratio. Lower animals, such as insects and fish, beat the odds through sheer weight of numbers. Out of many thousands produced, only a few will reach maturity.

All animals have the reproductive potential to overpopulate their range, but small animals, because of their faster reproductive rates, can achieve an imbalance more quickly than larger animals. Were it not for the continual pressure of predation, insects could attain staggering numbers in a matter of weeks. The ubiquitous house fly, for example, has 8 to 20 generations per season, depending on latitude. One female produces between 600 and 1,200 eggs. If all the succeeding generations survived and themselves successfully reproduced, one season would produce more than 191,000,000,000,000,000,000 offspring, a biotic mass of some 21/2 billion cubic yards; this volume would cover a 24-square-mile area 100 feet deep!

A precocial mammal, the newborn deer fawn, far left, relies on camouflage and an absence of scent to survive its first critical days of life. Canada goose goslings, above, receive constant parental protection during their flightless period, while squirrels, left, find refuge in the safety of a tree den 13   Nature cannot afford to be generous with the lives of all it creates. Most, like the young pheasant, right, and bull snake, below, perish early in life, providing fuel for other lifeforms, and thus helping to sustain a proper balance of numbers the community can support

Even the biotic potential of vertebrates is impressive. A meadow mouse, sexually maturq at}about 28 days, has a gestation period of only 21 days and produces 6 to 8 young per litter. In one year a single pair of mice could theoretically produce over 1,000,000 descendants. In a region of California in 1927, house mice reached a density of 82,000 per acre (or over 200 in an area covered by a 9x12-foot rug), a population far exceeding the carrying capacity of the land. Such population peaks are short-lived, however, since the resulting stress on the individuals and the damaged habitat soon lead to disease, starvation, and an increased vulnerability to predation.

Larger animals, such as deer, can also exhibit remarkable population increases in a relatively short period of time. By extirpating the cougar and wolf, the natural predators of deer, man encouraged deer herds to proliferate, which often resulted in the same boom-and-crash cycle. Eventually it was learned that the best protector of deer was, ironically enough, its own natural enemies. By culling the excess young and the old and unfit, the predators insured that the deer herds were genetically strong and maintained at a level within the carrying capacity of their habitat.

Not only must a species successfully reproduce itself year after year, it must also adapt to changing conditions. The immense landscape of evolution is a graveyard littered with vanished species, an impressive array of animals that in one way or another failed to adapt to changes that affected its community or climate.

Reptiles, for example, ruled the earth for a long period, gradually evolving and diversifying in a stable, tropical climate that produced abundant vegetation and tolerated primitive methods of reproduction. Although adaptively superior classes of animals —the birds and mammals —had evolved before the extinction of dinosaurs, their biological supremacy did not challenge the old reptilian dominance until the climate began to cool. Then the differences between reptiles and the birds and mammals became critical. Not only could birds and mammals adapt to cold (since they maintained a constant, internally controlled body temperature), but their methods of reproduction were more advanced than the reptiles.

Although birds, like reptiles, reproduced by laying eggs, they did not simply deposit and abandon them, trusting in the warm earth to incubate the eggs. Instead, they incubated their eggs with their own bodies, continuing to brood and feed the helpless young after hatching. Mammals carried the process a step further, bringing forth young already "hatched/' thereby eliminating the vulnerable external-egg stage altogether. In addition, they provided nourishment for their young from their own bodies.

Not only did these significant biological improvements insure the survival of birds and mammals, they also gave them a certain degree of independence from minor shifts in the climate. Both could be active in cold weather; and birds, with their wings, could migrate elsewhere to escape seasonally inhospitable conditions. Food supply and competition became the only restrictions to adaptive radiation and both birds and mammals flourished, diversifying into a bewildering array of forms and extending their ranges even into the polar regions.

Not all species within an animal class have the same manner of reproduction, however. Some snakes and fish, for instance, give birth to live young. Among the mammals, most are placental, nourishing the developing embryo within the uterus. A few, such as the opossum, are living representatives of the ancient order of marsupials, animals which give "birth" to underdeveloped young. Baby opossums are "born" 13 days after fertilization, making their way into the mother's marsupial pouch for further development. At the time of transfer, the young are so small that 20 would be required to fill a teaspoon!

Young placental mammals are usually helpless at birth, but some arrive at an advanced stage of development. Baby jackrabbits are said to be precocial, since they are born with hair, developed senses, and muscular coordination —an obvious survival advantage in their prairie habitat. Unlike hares, such as jackrabbits, true rabbits give birth to altricial young. At birth, baby cottontails are naked, blind and utterly helpless for many days. This is not a serious disadvantage to the cottontail, as it would be to the jackrabbit, since the cottontail's habitat provides plenty of protective cover.

Birds, too, show the same differences. Although a meadowlark and a killdeer may nest only yards apart, the young of the meadowlark are altricial at hatching —naked and blind —while the precocial killdeer, fully feathered and coordinated, are active and capable of leaving the nest soon after hatching.

Spring is a celebration of life. The ancient and the new struggle to survive, to insure their kind another spring. But life is what sustains life, and the role of most will be to serve as sustenance for others. In a world of living things, so excellently embroidered, death is but another form of life. Ω

15

ONE-QUARTER HORSE THREE-QUARTERS DYNAMITE

by Linda Pentzien

THE QUARTER-HORSE breed originated during the colonial era, in the Carolinas and Virginia. There, more than 300 years ago, match-racing was a leading outdoor sport, with races run on village streets and along country lanes near the plantations. Seldom were the horses raced beyond 440 yards, hence the colloquial name, "quarter miler."

The foundation of these quarter-running horses came from the Arab, Barb and Turk breeds brought to North America by Spanish explorers and traders. Stallions selected from those first arrivals were crossed with a band of mares which arrived from England in 1620. The cross produced compact, heavily muscled horses which could run a short distance faster than those of any other breed.

16

The uses of the quarter horse were manifold. As the white man moved west he took the quarter horse with him to help conquer and settle the continent. This is the horse that pulled the plows, wagons and buggies of the pioneers; that went up the trail with cattle to pasture and market; carried preachers and their Bibles to furthermost points of worship; and sped the country doctors to the beds of injured and ailing frontiersmen. The quarter horse survived time and change because he excelled in qualities which were of major importance to the greatest number of persons in diverse occupations and geographical areas. He was early adopted by ranchers and cowboys as the greatest roundup and trail driving horse they had seen, for he possessed inherent "cow sense."

The quarter horse became established in the Southwest in the early part of the 19th Century. As he trailed cattle north and west, he left progeny along the way, though his greatest influence remained in the Southwest until after his registry was established in 1941 by the American Quarter Horse Association. In the years after, the breed spread rapidly throughout the nation, into Canada, Old Mexico, and can now be found in over 50 foreign countries. His registry now is growing more than three times as fast as any other horse breed in the world.

More than three centuries elapsed between the origin of the quarter miler breed in colonial America and the organization of the American Quarter Horse. Years of talk around the branding fires at cow camps and at conventions of cattlemen emphasized the need for forming an organization NEBRASKAland to collect, register and preserve the pedigree of quarter horses. Yet the idea faded away with those who wished to perpetuate the bloodlines of the best individuals in every good remuda.

It was not until 1939, at the Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth, Texas, that champions of the breed were able to tie down suggestions for establishing an organization to represent the Quarter Horse and those who believed in him.

On March 15, 1940, a group of men and women from several southwestern states and the Republic of Mexico met in Fort Worth to formally establish the American Quarter Horse Association. And it was not until early 1941 that the first horse was registered by the young association. That first JUNE 1976 horse was Wimpy, and he stood Grand Champion Stallion at the 1941 Southwestern Exposition. He was sired by Sol is, and out of Panda, both of which trace back to the solid foundation bloodlines of Old Sorrel, Hickory Bill and Peter McCue. Wimpy was foaled in 1937 on the famous King Ranch in Texas, and died in August of 1959 on the ranch of Rex Cauble, Crockett, Texas.

A model had been set and the American Quarter Horse Association was off and running. The first several thousand quarter horses registered were done so by inspection of type and bloodlines. Later, and today, only horses with two parents registered by the Association may become a permanently registered quarter horse. With over one million registered horses in the American Quarter Horse Association, more than all other breed registries combined, it is only to be expected that they would have the largest horse show, and the horse race with the richest purse of any in the world.

The largest horse show of any single breed is held each fall in Coiumbus, Ohio with more than 2,000 entries of the country's best horses. All phases of the quarter horse are tested. Events include everything from halter conformation classes to cutting, roping and jumping to driving and trail classes. Along with this show are many clinics and demonstrations to help horsemen and women keep up with the latest practices and techniques.

The horse race with the world's richest purse is held in Ruidoso, New Mexico every (Continued on page 46)

17

THE RAINBOW TROUT IN THE NORTH PLATTE VALLEY

Text by Rod Van Velson

Cold, clean water is the key to trout production. The Rock Creek Hatchery is now threatened, and a new location may be necessary

GOOD TROUT FISHING in Nebraska depends on good coldwater management. And that management would be a tough proposition without good trout hatchery facilities upon which the fisheries biologist can draw.

In dealing with natural trout habitat, the fisheries manager must have the services of a good hatchery to provide fish for new waters, restored streams, or renovated waters.

Hatcheries are also needed to propagate specific strains of fish with certain characterisitcs that might enable them to adapt to specific habitats. Trout from the Alliance Drain, for example, seem better adapted to a bit harsher environment, and hatcheries might produce hardier fingerlings for stocking other streams from eggs of the Alliance Drain fish.

Another important use of the hatchery has already proven very successful. Many streams of the North Platte Valley can support trout once they reach a couple of inches in length, but conditions there are not right for spawning. Eggs from North Platte Valley rainbows can be hatched and raised to fingerlings before stocking in these streams.

Trout hatcheries, however, are rather hard to come by. The trout's need for cold, clean, well-aerated water severely limits potential sites in Nebraska. The Game and Parks Commission's present trout facility, Rock Creek Hatchery at Benkelman, has been such a site. Over the years, the water has flowed cold, clean, and in abundance.

However, the very existence of this facility a few years down the road now seems in question, so improvements must be delayed. In recent years, the flow of springs feeding the hatchery have declined, and it appears that the large number of irrigation wells sunk a few miles away for center-pivot systems, is the cause. Furthermore, it seems likely that much more irrigation development will come in the near future.

Geological studies have been initiated by the Game and Parks Commission to determine the relationship between irrigation wells and the hatchery's water supply. If these studies indicate that the hatchery's water supply is, indeed, threatened by irrigation, then it would make little sense to invest money in major improvements. Instead, a new hatchery site will have to be found.

Sites offering the abundant cold, clean water needed are hard to come by in Nebraska. But, if the Rock Creek facility's days are numbered, a new trout hatchery will be needed to keep Nebraska trout fishing up to its potential. Ω

18 NEBRASKAland            

SAFETY WHEN IT COUNTS

Bough water is common on Nebraska's reservoirs, and knowing how to handle your boat and yourself can mean the difference between grim hardship and an easy trip

NEBRASKA'S RESERVOIRS are a great source of recreation, but even fun must be tempered with common sense for the benefit of all.

And, safety is one of the primary considerations when using a boat, as it means that people are out of their element, and there are hazards involved. Yet safety is seldom part of the planning, and only the required equipment and steps are taken.

Reservoirs are notorious for becoming too rough for a small boat —often in a short period of time* Even a relatively gentle breeze can be amplified by long, open stretches of water, with good sized waves generated in the process. Often, embarking upon a fishing expedition in the calm of early morning makes people oblivious to gradually increasing winds later in the day. Then, the boat may be a considerable distance from the dock or trailer, and a very real danger may exist just trying to get off the water.

Being familiar with the boat and its capabilities of riding out rough water helps, but the only way to become familiar with it is to be out on rough water. That can be a difficult lesson.

In most cases, common sense will speak up loudly when the weather gets too bad to be afloat, but even then there are circumstances when that doesn't help. A disabled craft or sheer distance from shore may present special obstacles.

It is at such times that life preservers become of utmost importance. Whether considered a nuisance or not at all other times, it is under adverse conditions that they become necessary, and when they are worth all the trouble at other times.

Finding yourself in a bad situation, the first step would be to buckle on a preserver. Many folks wear life jackets at all times, and although the law doesn't require it except for children under 12 years of age, it is a sensible practice.

Depending on conditions, good boat handling can save a lot of grief. Normally, heading as nearly into the waves as possible is the best course to follow. But, if the waves are so high they break over the bow and could fill the boat, it is a mistake. Under those conditions, the boat should be quartered into the wind and waves until an angle of navigation is possible without shipping too much water.

Except for the danger of capsizing, most boats will JUNE 1976 also ride parallel with the waves, riding the crests and dropping into the troughs. Depending upon conditions, travel is then possible going at a right angle until shore is reached. It is advisable under this procedure to lower the center of gravity as much as possible —having all passengers get into the bottom of the boat to allow the craft to perform its best. Capsizing is most likely when sideways to the waves.

Depending upon the boat and the distance between waves, it may also be possible to go directly or nearly so, away from the wind. Momentum must be maintained, however, or water will usually come over the transom as the boat bogs down in each trough. By keeping moving, you stay just ahead of the waves, riding at the same speed much like surfboarding.

A slow traveling speed is normally best under any rough-water conditions, whether going with, away or diagonally with the wind.

Perhaps the most dangerous situation is if the motor cannot be operated. In this case, the wind and water are going to turn the boat all around, inviting water aboard. In extremely rough weather, the best procedure is to put out the anchor to keep the bow into the wind. If the anchor is on a long rope, it will probably hold the boat in position.

And, that is not always desirable, especially if shore is in reach. Then, it is best to put the anchor on a short line, just barely touching bottom. Then, each time the boat is lifted on a crest, it will drag the anchor a bit, gradually moving the boat. Or, a passenger can operate the rope, letting the anchor drag only enough to keep headway, but lifting it off the bottom to allow more movement.

A sea anchor serves the same purpose —providing sufficient drag to hold the boat's position, but not enough to restrict movement. Even an ice chest may be used, tying it off the bow.

At any rate, even if the boat capsizes, it is best to stay with it. Nearly any craft will stay afloat enough to support several people in the water, and it can then be slowly pushed ashore. It might be necessary to drop the engine off. The important thing is to stay afloat, and a life preserver really comes in handy for that.

Knowing that you are at least partly prepared for unexpected bad times can help considerably in enjoying the good times, too. Ω

35

THE WILDERNESS ETHIC

TIMES HAVE CHANGED, and somewhat unfortunately, so must people if what little wilderness remains is to retain its unique character for those of the present and future to enjoy.

Since the days of pioneer trappers and explorers, when living in the great outdoors was a continual struggle to survive by conquering nature and using the resources to work for themselves, wilderness has shrunk. No longer are there vast tracts of untouched lands. Virtually every foot of the continent has been tamed, and much of it has been pillaged or converted to a "foreign" use by the vagaries of our modern way of life.

Modern outdoor enthusiasts have 36 far more responsibility to nature than those explorers, as they must now consider the impact they make. In fact, today's wilderness will remain wild and unspoiled for future generations only if it is protected and cared for by each and every visitor.

Various groups concerned with this matter, including the Sierra Club, have developed a Wilderness Camping Ethic which is a true code for outdoor living aimed at preserving the wild country. Some of the measures outlined seem extreme, yet in most areas it is absolutely necessary to take the utmost care or destruction is inevitable —and nearly permanent. It takes many generations to restore damage caused by fire, for example, or the cutting of trees. Pollution and littering are senseless and destructive, and have varying impact depending upon the situation.

It is stressed that there should be a deep sense of satisfaction and personal achievement in the knowledge that one has camped in and traveled through an area without leaving any perceptible trace —which is the spirit of living in harmony with the wilderness.

Here, then, are some suggestions for how to experience the outdoors without "hurting the one you love."

CAMP LOCATIONS

Set up camp where foot traffic does the least damage to fragile vegetation —never in meadows, preferably in sandy or rocky areas. Minimize building, whether for kitchen facilities or bed sites. Don't disarrange the natural landscape with hard-to-eradicate ramparts of rock for fireplaces or windbreaks. Rig tents by tying ropes to rocks or trees. Never cut boughs or put nails in trees. Avoid disturbing the soil with hollows or trenches — locate shelters so that water drains away naturally. When breaking camp, erase all evidence that you were there.

FIRES

Efficient fuel stoves should be used whenever possible. They are clean, fast, dependable and normally safe. Several types are available, including white gas, butane, propane, alcohol, sterno and kerosene burners. There is little need for campfires, as proper clothing and sleeping gear eliminate the excuse that a fire is needed for warmth, and when a focal point is desired for comradeship, use a small candle. When a fire is an absolute necessity, collect small sticks from areas away from the campsite, use only fallen wood, and keep the fire as small as possible and scatter the remains when it is co mpletely dead.

CAMP TOOLS

When attuned to the spirit of modern camping, such utensils as axes, hatchets, saws, shovels and machetes are not only unnecessary, but potentially destructive. For most purposes, a small sheath or folding knife will suffice for all camp chores such as cutting and peeling. The idea is not to see how much timber can be cut down, so use the large implements only to fight fires or in an emergency situation. Use rope instead of nails or notches or stakes. Use a ground cloth instead of a tableorchairs, and you'll enjoy the simplicity.

CLEAN-UP

In most cases, garbage should be carried out rather than being buried, as excavations are subject to erosion and can attract animals to dig them back up. Burn everything that will burn, clean °ut the fire and carry out everything else-cans, bottles, etc. Edibles may be scattered thinly, out of sight and away from camp ot trails, where they will decompose or be consumed by birds or animals. Actually, there should be little garbage if the trip was carefully planned and meals are prepared properly. Fix only enough food for each meal and there will be no leftovers to deal with. Leave the campsite cleaner than you found it, make every trip around camp a clean-up trip, and on the way out, offer to carry out other people's trash as well... may be they will get the hint to aiso practice the code.

TRAVEL

Stay on established trails if they are present. Cutting corners or across switchbacks breaks down trail edges to start erosion, and can dislodge rocks and vegetation. Restrain the impulse to blaze trees, build markers or leave other signs. Let the next hiker find his own way ,as you did.

BATHING, SANITATION

Do all bathing and washing of dishes well back from the shores of lakes or streams in a bucket or basin. Swim away and downstream from camp. Prevent pollution by keeping all soaps out of the water. Soap is preferred even to a biodegradable detergent, which may leach into adjoining drainage. Bathing should be done by lathering and rinsing away from open water before taking a final dip. For a latrine, select a site at least 50 feet from open water. Dig a hole about 8 inches in diameter with a heel or trowel, and no more than 8 inches deep, to stay within the "biological disposer" layer of soil. Save the sod and replace after use. Burn any paper and replace the dirt and sod.

BED SITES

Avoid digging or leveling if at all possible. Try to find a flat and sheltered area, and if materials must be moved, such as rocks, replace them when you leave.

MISCELLANEOUS

Catch only as many fish as you can eat, and clean them away from eating areas and water. Conceal entrails —do not throw back into the water. Avoid using pressure-type lanterns as they scorch trees and foilage if hung up. It is best to avoid artificial lights, relying instead on completing chores during daylight and enjoying the natural qualities of darkness and night. A small flashlight is adequate for moving around at night. Be a considerate neighbor at all times, even when you have no neighbors. Don't crowd other camps or sleeping areas if they are present. Noise is not in harmony with wilderness. Radios are likewise out of place. Learn to read the weather and anticipate changes for yourself. Also, smoke only in camp and at stops, never when traveling. Then field strip and put completely out.

The tenets of the wilderness traveler's creed are that man —an intelligent animal—can travel the wilderness and leave no trace. Keep groups small; do not stay in one place long; do not cut trees or branches; do not build fires; leave no trash or other evidence —leave no trace.

Many people do not appreciate the fragile nature of nature. While it is capable of withstanding natural fires, storms and wind, the careless hand of man can be extremely damaging. Modern developments are the most serious threat, as greed usually usurps good judgement to everyone's detriment.

Developed parks are extremely valuable, but they are not nearly extensive enough to handle the demand for open spaces. It is the wilderness areas —those regions not scraped and scarred and leveled and mined that must be preserved. Once destroyed, and tamed, they are irreplaceable. Fortunately, more and more people are coming to realize that all effort must be made to preserve natural places. The cost is small, yet the benefits are incalculable. Ω

37

FISHING...ON VACATION

Fishing, vacation activities make natural combination for good time

photos by Greg Beaumont by Ken Bouc

IN JANUARY and February, it's ice fishing. Then, there's the rainbow trout run in the Panhandle in March, walleye along the dams come April, and bass in May.

By the time June rolls around, the hard-pressed angler should be just about ready for a break, or at least a change of pace. And what better way is there to relax than a leisurely Nebraska vacation, with a little camping and fishing, or perhaps some sightseeing and fishing, or maybe tours of historical parks, museums and the like combined with a bit of fishing?

In fact, a summer vacation with family and friends can be among the most rewarding of fishing experiences, especially for the hard-core, dedicated angler. On a Nebraska vacation of a week or more, there need not be any of the pressure to put in a lot of time on the water as there might be on an outing devoted exclusively to fishing. And, there's no need to rack up a lot of miles and spend a lot of cash hurrying to one of the distant and traditional tourist traps that are the goals of hordes of other vacationers.

The summer vacation is also the perfect opportunity for the angler at the other end of the spectrum —the now-and-then fisherman who gets out only once or twice a year. Whether red hot or luke warm on the sport, including fishing in your vacation plans (or including vacation in your fishing plans) gives another dimension to the trip that's sure to be worthwhile.

If you stop and think about it, there are a lot of things to do, places to go, and sights to see in Nebraska that offer fishing opportunity in the area or on the way. History or antique buffs, for example, can gawk at relics to their heart's content travelling Interstate 80 and the Platte Valley. There's Stuhr Museum, House of Yesterday, Pioneer Village, Fort Kearny State Historical Park, Fort McPherson National Cemetery, Buffalo Bill Ranch State Historical Park, and Ash Hollow State Historical Park.

Paralleling the route is the 1-80 Chain of Lakes, beginning with Mormon Island State Wayside Area at Grand Island with a couple of lakes 38 with good (though rather wary) bass populations. In addition, the Tri-County system of lakes also lies nearby, with Johnson Lake, Lake Maloney, and Sutherland Reservoir the best of the lot. And, at the western end of the line lies Lake McConaughy, probably the top fishing hole in the state.

Other combinations are also possible. Campers in Nebraska have it made when it comes to fishing, since nearly all of the best fishing waters have at least one campground on their shores. The Platte Valley lakes offer many choices, although the campgrounds and lakes can become a bit crowded at the peak of the season and on weekends.

Another camping-fishing possibility parallels Nebraska's southern border—following the Republican River Valley and reservoirs there. Harlan County Reservoir provides good walleye fishing through most of June, white bass fishing later in the summer, and catfish nearly all year. It's much the same story for Medicine Creek and Swanson reservoirs, while Red Willow Reservoir offers good crappie fishing and fine bass angling for the experienced angler. Other smaller lakes in the region offer good fishing, too, combined with a quieter, more relaxing atmosphere.

Canoeists also have built-in fishing opportunities, particularly if they select the proper stretches of water. The Missouri River above and below Lewis and Clark Lake is good for experienced canoeists in years of normal water flows, and it offers some fine walleye, sauger and other game fish. But, abnormally high water releases from dams upstream can make that stretch troublesome for canoeists, so it is wise to check before embarking on a trip.

Some stretches of the Platte, Elkhorn, Republican and Loup rivers offer both good canoeing and good catfishing, although it may be a bit late this year to find enough water to float the craft. But, these and other rivers bear consideration for a springtime outing next year.

Hikers and backpackers also have some fishing opportunities, though these are more limited. The trout streams in north-central and northwest Nebraska are generally located in the kind of scenic and remote country that hikers like. With a little scouting beforehand, it is possible to line up permission from ranchers to hike across their property and fish their streams. In a very few instances, such opportunities are available on public land in state or federal ownership. Trout streams with public access include Soldiers Creek on the James Ranch Special Use Area and Fort Robinson Wood Reserve above Fort Robinson State Park. There is also Pine Glen Special Use Area on Long Pine Creek. The area is small by hiker and backpacker standards, but it does provide access to trout water and nearly 1,000 acres of splendorous countryside.

Another relaxing way to while away a vacation is to pick just one locality with some interesting activities and stay put there for a week or so. Merritt Reservoir, for example, can serve as a base of operations for such a stay. Campgrounds on the reservoir or cabins and motels in the area provide a place to stash your duds for a few days while taking a look around.

The Snake River Falls below the lake, and a section of the river are open to visitors for a modest fee. The Valentine National Wildlife Refuge nearby offers chances for sightseeing, wildlife observation and good fishing action. Broods of young ducks and geese should be following proud parents around, and other critters and their young should also be apparent. Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge to the northeast is also well worth a visit, with its bison, longhorns, elk and other animals. And, canoes are available locally for a day's float trip down the scenic Niobrara River.

The area holds plenty for fishermen too. Merritt Reservoir offers good walleye, bass, crappie, perch and bluegill fishing. Trout anglers will find the area particularly attractive, with excellent brown and rainbow trout fishing available for a small fee on private water below the dam, and some trout are also on tap in the lake. Of course, this is just one possibility; Lake McConaughy, Harlan County Reservoir and NBERASKAland

  other areas have similar vacation and fishing potential.

Besides these activities, there are a host of other vacation pursuits that might go well with fishing. But, it is awkward here to go into detail about various attractions. The "Vacation Packet", available from the State Department of Economic Development, Box 94666, Lincoln, Nebr. 68509, will do a good job in helping plan a vacation. Just combine that material with a little data on the state's fishing waters to plan your vacation fishing trip. And, here's some general information on some areas that might help in planning.

SOUTHWEST Interstate 80 Lakes-good through June for largemouth, smallmouth, rock bass; catfish in July and August; Harlan County Reservoir-walleye good through June; white bass at night under lanterns; white bass fishing good in July and August by following gulls; catfish on shad all year; boat required for best results; Medicine Creek, Swanson Reservoir-good on walleye through June, white bass good in July and August; Johnson Lake, Lake Maloney - good through June; white bass good at inlet early in season, on lake later in summer; Lake McConaughy — good walleye fishing much of the year, but best in cooler months; white bass fishing good in July and August; rainbow trout June through September; striped bass September to early November; boat is almost a must; Lake Ogallala — rainbow trout July through September; perch and white bass at the inlet; Rock Creek Lake —good fishing for catfish, crappie, bullheads; scenic and quiet lake; Hayes Center Lake—good bass fishing, scenic and quiet, PANHANDLE North Platte River —good for catfish through July; Soldier Creek —good trout fishing above Fort Robinson; Lake Minatare — excellent walleye lake; good for crappies; best fishing early in year; Whitney Lake —crappie and walleye; no camping, no concessions; Smith Lake—big bullheads early in year; bigbluegill in summer months; fishing from shore fair, adults do better with waders, small boat best for youngsters. SAND HILLS Merritt Reservoir —walleye, crappie, bass, perch, bluegill; fishing from shore fair, boat improves chances; Sand Hills lakes —some have good fish populations, but weeds hamper fishing in summer; waders or boat a must; perch, bass, pike, occasionally walleye; Long Pine Creek —good trout fishing, public access at Pine Glen Special Use Area, Long Pine State Recreation Area; Snake River —excellent trout fishing below the falls; private property accessible through fee or landowner permission; Other trout streams —accessible with landowner permission; Sherman Reservoir —some pike, walleye, crappie; water drops dramatically in summer. 41   NORTHEAST Gavins Point Dam Tailwaters —catfish, walleye and sauger; bank fishing possible but boats improve success; Loup Canal —big catfish in summer months; Grove Lake—largemouth bass among stumps in bays and backwaters; Pibel Lake —big bullheads at night in late summer; northern pike all year; Lake North —good crappie fishing from the bank in late spring and early summer. SOUTHEAST Salt Valley Lakes — panfish, occasional pike, some bass and walleye; fishing and boating pressure heavy; Big Indian Lake —good bass and catfish, some bluegill; located southwest of Wymore; Rockford Lake —good crappie fishing; Big Nemaha River —very good catfishing through August; Little Blue River and tributaries — good catfishing; occasional big flathead catfish below Fairbury; Republican River —catfish through July.

While Nebraska offers a variety of fishing waters, it is obvious that the larger reservoirs are best equipped to handle most vacationers. They are set up with cabins, campgrounds, groceries, boat rentals and guides.

The boats and guides are the most important factors in having good fishing on your trip. The guide might be considered a luxury by less ardent anglers who don't really care whether

or not they catch fish. And, experienced fishermen would probably consider a guide a downright waste of cash. But, if you want good fishing and are unfamiliar with a lake, the guide's fee might be money well spent. Consider retaining the guide for your first few days or the first visit, and note where and how he fishes so that you can try similar tactics on your own later.

The boat is also vital on many lakes since the fish are usually beyond the reach of the bank fisherman. Taking your own boat is the ideal situation, but dragging one along on a vacation can be a big hassle. Renting one on the lake is another option, if you can stand a little drain on your cash supply. A real compromise is to take along a motor in the 10 or 15-horse-power class and rent only a boat at the lake. Usually, the motor rent is the largest part of the cost of the "package", and you may feel more comfortable with your own unit, anyway.

But, before you make any plans along this line, contact a concession on the lake. It is a good idea to make cabin reservations in advance, and to discuss availability of boats and guides. Tell the concession operator of your plans to bring your own motor to be sure he allows such arrangements. Do not just take off for a fishing lake and expect to find boats and accommodations available for the asking. During the vacation season, it seldom works that way.

Come vacation time, the lure of far-away places is strong. But, there's also some good vacationing and some good fishing right here in Nebraska, probably somewhere near home. Ω

1/4 HORSE, 3/4 DYNAMITE

(Continued from Page 17)

Labor Day. The quarter-mile dash is open to all two-year-old quarter horses. But, it is not as easy as it seems. The first nomination payment of $50 is due when the horse is barely 1 year old. As the months go by, more payments are necessary to keep the foal eligible for the competition. Usually over 1,200 yearlings are nominated, and when the actual trials come around, there are about 200 eligibles left. The horses qualify for the finals by running in trial heats, and the 10 fastest qualifying times go to the finals. The winner in the finals of the 440-yard sprint brings home a paycheck of $330,000, or approximately $15,300 per second. However, even dead last in the finals or winning one of the three consolation races will mean winning more than a good year's salary. And, the thrill of owning a good sprinting quarter horse is a joy that has no price.

A quarter horse is something you can ride and enjoy and be proud of. The quarter horse is the most versatile, best all-around horse the world has ever known. He is gentle, and his easy-going disposition makes him an ideal mount for women and children. He is thrifty, and easy to keep and train. He has no equal for rodeoing-cutting, roping, barrel racing and bulldogging. The quarter horse is intelligent, determined, surefooted; ideally suited to trail riding. His stance permits him to move quickly in any direction, to start, stop and turn with the ease and balance of a cat chasing a mouse. He is without peer as a race horse up to and including a quarter of a mile, and with the constant influx of thoroughbred blood, is becoming an excellent distance horse.

From the moment of birth, the quarter horse becomes something special to its owner. It must be decided from bloodlines, conformation and your own desires if it will be nominated for the All-American Futurity at Ruidoso, become a World's Champion show horse, or your child's 4-H project. Whatever your decision, the chances are that the quarter horse will do his very best to fullfill your dreams.

NEBRASKAland

Nebraska ranks sixth in number of registered quarter horses behind Texas, California, Oklahoma, Colorado and Kansas, with a total of 32,049. There were 1,832 American Quarter Horse members from Nebraska in 1975. Nebraskans owned and raised Honor Roll Champions and World Champions last year as they have in many years previous. Some of the best horses have come from Nebraska, both racing and show stock, and some of the leading breeders in the country live in the state. Howard Pitzer from Erickson has one of the top stallions and broodmare bands in the world and is an outstanding leader in the industry. Located in Waterloo is Sycamore Farm which has bred and raised, shown and raced their stock to many outstanding wins. And this is only a start. There are many Nebraskans who own only a few horses but produce some of the best and most competitive horses anywhere.

Quarter-horse shows in Nebraska are well established as being some of the toughest competition, and now the newly formed Nebraska Quarter Horse Racing Association is working on making quarter horse racing in Nebraska the best. This year, quarter horses racing on Nebraska soil will be competing for over $200,000 in purses! There are currently two quarter horse tracks in the state, one at the Custer County fairgrounds and one at the Thayer County fairgrounds. The Custer County fairgrounds are in Broken Bow, where horses will be running from May 27 through July 5 on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights plus Mondays on Memorial Day and July 5. Racing at the Thayer County Downs in Deshler begins July 8 and continues through July 31 with racing also on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Nebraska has been a horse-oriented state since they were introduced to the west, and the interest in and enjoyment of them has probably never been greater than now. With the introduction of sanctioned pari-mutuel quarter horse racing, even more people will be exposed to the merits and beauty of these fine animals.

Anyone wanting to know more about them can write to the American Quarter Horse Association in Amarillo, Texas, 79168, or the Nebraska Quarter Horse Racing Association, in care of Linda Pentzien, Rt. 1, Box 321, Waterloo, Nebr. 68069. Ω

Linda Pentzien began showing horses and ponies when she was eight years old, and had heen riding for several years before that. Named World's Champion All-Around Youth of the American Quarter Horse Association in 1972, she now has a Bachelor of Science Degree in animal science from Colorado State University. She and her husband Bob are now at Sycamore Farm in Waterloo, Nebraska and are raising and training some of the finest Quarter horses in the country. JUNE 976

HABITAT PLAN

(Continued from page 9)

to LB861, a payment in lieu of taxes will have to be made each year to the appropriate taxing entitles on any tracts acquired with these new funds.

As to what land and water types are rated of highest priority, certainly wetland tracts, especially in south-central Nebraska will be high on the list. Riparian woodlands along rivers and streams will rank high. These will provide fishing access and wildlife habitat both. Sizeable tracts of land with good upland game habitat, or those which can be developed for same, will rate high.

The Natural Resources Districts will be allocated up to $1,000,000 per year to preserve or establish wildlife habitat on private lands. Half the total amount, or $500,000 of these funds, will be allocated equally to those NRD's wishing to participate. The other half will be allocated to NRD's on a resource needs-and-potential basis. The NRDs will be required to provide 25 cents, with this fund providing 75 cents of every dollar spent for practices in the NRD.

Tree and shrub planting, legume and grass seeding, and fencing of good habitat areas are examples of the practices that will be funded.

The final phase relates to habitat improvement on public lands, and increased operating expenses of the wildlife branch of the department. Annually $600,000 would be programmed for wildlife habitat improvements on department-owned or controlled lands, and for other public lands on which we could contract for habitat developments. The remaining $400,000 would then be expended for increased operational costs on the wildlife side of the agency.

Most of the habitat work on department-owned and controlled lands will be related to tree and shrub plantings and seeding of grasses and legumes. The net result will be to achieve a greater habitat diversity, or better cover interspersion to use a more technical term.

On other public lands on which habitat improvement agreements may be made, our objective will be to increase nesting and winter cover. In a number of instances, fencing may be installed to protect critical habitat from grazing.

In conclusion, it will take a rededication of both our staff and the interested public to a common goal —habitat today for wildlife tomorrow. Ω

NEBRASKAland

NOTES ON NEBRASKA FAUNA...

WAPITI or ELK

by Harvey L. Gunderson Associate Director of Museum and Professor of Zoology, U.N.L. Art by Neal Anderson

ELK CAME TO America when walking between Asia and Alaska was possible. The Indians called them "wapiti", while the first settlers on the eastern seaboard called them elk, a corruption of "elg," the European or the Old World moose.

Elk, Cervus cauadeusis, belong to the deer family (Cervidae) but are much larger than white-tailed and mule deer. Adult males may reach a length of 6 feet, a height of 5 feet at the shoulders, and weight of up to 1000 pounds. Females are smaller, weighing from 400 to 700 pounds. The body is covered with a grayish-tan coat in winter which is replaced by a more buffy coat in summer. The head, neck, large mane, chest and legs are a contrasting dark brown. Like other members of the deer family, males carry antlers which may reach a length of four feet with as many as six tines on each side. As in other members of the deer family, elk shed their antlers each year.

These magnificent creatures were once the most widespread of North American hoofed animals. Their range covered the northern two-thirds of the United States from the Berkshires and southern Appalachians to the Pacific Coast and from southern New Mexico into the northern part of the Canadian provinces. The species was heavily hunted for its meat, hide and often merely for its canine teeth, which were used as a fraternal emblem.

By 1900, wapiti had been eliminated from about 90 per cent of their vast range. The last large herds in Nebraska were seen in 1877. The pattern is distressingly similar to that of the destruction of the bison. Sizeable elk herds remained only in three Canadian prairie provinces, in the Yellowstone-Teton National Park area, and on the Olympic Peninsula. Using stock from these herds, wapiti have been transplanted into many other areas.

Wapiti are beginning to make their reappearance in Nebraska where there are isolated but increasing reports. The first was in the northwestern part of the state in 1958, in Box Butte County. In 1964, a cow and calf were observed in Garden County. For a number of years excess elk have been transplanted from the southern part of the Black Hills to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. They have also been transplanted into eastern Wyoming from Yellowstone National 50 Park. It is common for animals released in an unfamiliar area to wander extensively, and perhaps elk will eventually be a part of the wildlife picture of western Nebraska again.

Protection in the national parks and refuges has caused overcrowded conditions where elk have figuratively eaten themselves out of house and home. This overpopulation has become a chronic condition in the Yellowstone-Teton area and demonstrates the necessity for research so that the elk, along with deer, antelope, bighorn and bison, can be perpetuated intelligently.

Elk live in herds, have migratory habits and communicate mostly by gestures and vocalizations rather than by physical contacts. For instance, lifting the front leg or the head, or folding the ears back, signals irritation or anger.

The spotted calves are born in late May or early June after a gestation period of 249 to 262 days. Although calves can walk within a few hours after birth they are usually kept in hiding, their necks outstretched, head flat on the ground, ears back and spotted coat melting into the background. Evidently they give off no odor or one that cannot be detected by predators. Hunting dogs are unable to find them, yet a cow can recognize her own calf.

With the exception of the cows on the calving ground, the rest of the group, predominantly males, continue their movement toward the summer pastures in the higher meadows of the mountains. The pattern of the nursery group begins to take shape on the calving ground, where there may be 12 to 30 cows. The calf remains hidden for a week or two while the cow grazes and rests, returning at intervals to nurse and nuzzle the calf, which has been left in a "calf pool." These calf pools are guarded by one or two cows which stay with the young while the others graze and move about freely.

By fall the young have been weaned, although there still remains a loose bond between the cow and her calf. The rut, a busy time for the adult bulls, begins in September. The sound of bugling can be heard constantly, but is most pronounced early in the morning. During the peak of the rut bugling can be heard throughout the day. Bugling is a stirring and startling sound in nature. It starts on a low note and rises to a very highpitched shrill whistle then drops abruptly and ends in a grunt.

An adult bull gathers a harem whose size depends upon his ability to attract females and drive away challengers. The bull circles the harem, bugling, roaring and watching, and rarely takes time to graze. A bugle from a rival puts him into a rage and starts him on a widespread search for the interloper. The herding instinct is very compulsive and a domesticated bull elk was once reported to have herded a group of Hereford cattle, keeping them from water, until the rancher rescued them.

By the end of August the breeding urge has diminished and the adult males have lost much weight. By late fall the restlessness, irritability and activity of the rutting season have disappeared and the herds then live more peaceably. Another generation has been assured, and the herd needs to rest and graze so as to regain their weight and health for surviving the most hazardous time of year for them and for most wildlife —the winter season. Ω

Original art of the elk was done by Meal Anderson, and is for sale. He also will do other paintings on a commission basis. He can be contacted through NEBRASKAland Box 30370, Lincoln, Nebraska 68503. NEBRASKAland