LINCOLN, Neb. – Waterfowl hunters are invited to attend a class on hypothermia safety on Aug. 4 at Niobrara State Park.

The class covers basic facts of hypothermia, different scenarios hunters might encounter, and how to respond. Then participants will head to the park swimming pool to practice water safety in a controlled environment.

Niobrara State Park superintendent Mark Rettig developed the class in response to the numerous hypothermia-related rescues of hunters he sees.

“When the water’s cold, it doesn’t take long for accidents to happen,” he said. “This class provides the opportunity to start thinking about safety ahead of fall hunting season.”

The class will take place from 10 a.m. to noon. Participants are asked to bring their chest waders, hunting gear and a lifejacket. The class is free to attend.

For more information, call the park at 402-857-3373. A park entry permit is required.

Mid-, late-summer is the best time to catch white bass and wipers

LINCOLN, Neb. – Mid-to-late-summer provides some of the best opportunities to catch white bass and wipers in Nebraska.

During that time, white bass and wipers chase baitfish towards the surface, usually early and late in the day. Anglers can look for boils on the surface, baitfish jumping out of the water, and frenzied gull activity above the surface.

Anglers will want to ease carefully into casting range without running over the fish and scaring them away. A variety of artificial baits that are the same size and silvery or white colors of the baitfish will work, as will spoons, spinners, jigs, and crankbaits. For even more excitement, throw a top-water bait. When the surface activity slows, try fishing deeper in the same area to pick up a few stragglers.

The best waters in Nebraska for summer white bass and wipers tend to be large reservoirs where those open-water predators thrive. Harlan, Calamus and McConaughy are perennial favorites, but be sure to check the annual Fishing Forecast (outdoornebraska.gov/fishingforecast) for other picks.

Game and Parks seeks to hire additional conservation officers

LINCOLN, Neb. – There is still time to apply to become a Nebraska conservation officer. The application deadline is Aug. 26.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is seeking to add new conservation officers. Conservation officers have the important job of protecting our natural resources and helping keep the people who use our state parks and other public lands safe through the enforcement of fish, wildlife, boating, and park laws.

As state peace officers, conservation officers also enforce other criminal and traffic laws on lands owned by the Game and Parks and elsewhere throughout the state. Conservation officers also conduct a variety of education and wildlife management duties.

Game and Parks is looking to fill up to six positions around the state. Duty station locations have not been set.

To learn more about a law enforcement career at Game and Parks, visit outdoornebraska.gov/lawenforcementcareers/.

Hunters may enter lottery for deer hunting access on central Platte

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may enter a lottery to gain deer hunting access to Platte River Recreation Access (PRRA) lands in the central Platte River Valley, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Forty-seven hunters will be chosen from a random drawing in early September and allowed to hunt deer on designated PRRA lands Nov. 16-24, 2019.

Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted by mail or in person at the Game and Parks service center in Kearney from Aug. 1 through Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. Hunters can apply to hunt three areas but will only receive permission on one area if their name is drawn. Lottery winners will be notified by Sept. 20. Hunters are required to obtain the appropriate deer permit and habitat stamp in order to hunt.

PRRA lands are closed to all access from Oct. 9 to Nov. 15. More information and a map showing the available areas can be obtained at platteaccess.org, by calling 308-865-5338 or e-mailing ngpc.platteaccess@nebraska.gov.

PRRA lands are lands purchased by the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program for the restoration and maintenance of habitat for three threatened and endangered species in the central Platte River Valley. The PRRA program allows limited access to these properties when access will not disturb these species. More information on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program can be found at platteriverprogram.org.

Health alerts issued for Rockford Lake and Wagon Train Lake; alert continues at Willow Creek

LINCOLN, Neb. – The state has issued new health alerts for harmful algal blooms, also known as toxic blue-green algae, at Rockford Lake in Gage County and Wagon Train Lake in Lancaster County.

An alert continues at Willow Creek Reservoir in Pierce County. The alert has ended at Harlan County Reservoir in Harlan County.

Samples taken earlier this week at the three lakes were above the state’s health alert threshold of 20 parts per billion (ppb) of total microcystin (a toxin released by certain strains of blue-green algae.) The alerts will continue at the lakes for at least two more weeks, because lakes that are on health alert must have two consecutive weeks of readings below the threshold before the alert is discontinued.

When a health alert is issued, signs are posted to advise the public to use caution, and designated swimming beaches are closed during the alert. Boating and fishing are permitted, but the public is advised to use caution and avoid exposure to the water, particularly avoiding any activity that could lead to swallowing the water. Do not let pets get in the water or drink from the lake. People can still use the public areas for camping, picnics and other outdoor activities.

Weekly sampling has been conducted at 51 public lakes since the beginning of May. The lakes will continue to be monitored weekly throughout the end of September.

Updated lake algae and bacteria levels are posted each week at deq.ne.gov.

Draw winners have until Aug. 5 to pay for paddlefish snagging permits

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds individuals who successfully drew 2019 paddlefish permits that they must pay for their permits by 11:59 p.m. Central Time on Monday, Aug. 5.

Applicants can check their permit status and make payments by logging into the online permit system at ngpc-home.ne.gov. Permits also may be purchased at any Game and Parks permitting office. A complete list of permitting offices can be found online at OutdoorNebraksa.org/locations.

Unpaid paddlefish snagging permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis to Nebraska residents only beginning at 1 p.m. Central Time on Monday, Aug. 19.

Purchase big game permits beginning Aug. 5

LINCOLN, Neb. – Hunters may purchase 2019 big game permits over the counter on a first-come, first-served basis beginning Aug. 5 at 1 p.m. Central Time (CT) through the end of big game seasons. These comprise of buy-unit permits, forfeited draw permits and unsold draw permits.

Residents, nonresidents and eligible landowners may purchase remaining deer permits and residents and eligible landowners may purchase remaining elk and antelope permits.

Following the drawing, three elk permits, four antelope permits and 113 deer permits went unpaid, were forfeited, and are available for purchase during the buy period.

One landowner Niobrara West antlerless elk permit was not drawn and must be purchased at the Bassett Service Center. Forty-four Republican mule deer permits remain after the drawing.

To view the entire list of big game permits available to purchase, go to OutdoorNebraska.org, then click on Buy a Permit, then on Remaining Permits.

For more information on upcoming big game hunting seasons, read the 2019 Big Game Guide, which is available at OutdoorNebraska.gov/guides or wherever hunting permits are sold.