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I am not going to tell you when we are going to have safe ice.  I learned a long time ago that you cannot point to a day on the calendar and say that will be when you can start ice fishing.  You have to check it, make sure it is safe, every time (topic of a lot of past blog posts, and will be for future posts). However, I do know this:  It is time to get ready, time …

The holiday season is upon us and it’s filled with many hunting traditions as family and friends get together, especially in waterfowl hunting blinds. For most of us, hunting is about much more than a successful harvest. It’s about spending time afield bonding with family and friends, watching the sunrise over a river wetland on a crisp morning or watching the sunset from a harvested cornfield on a warm, windy evening, plus having exciting stories to tell when you get …

It’s the season for giving thanks. There are many, many things for which I am thankful, especially in nature and the outdoor activities I enjoy doing here in Nebraska. But, this holiday season, I wanted to offer my heartfelt gratitude to the individuals who allow me to hunt with them. You see, being a Type A, overly talkative, boisterous, assertive person, these folks have put up with my constant chattering, story telling and more in hunting blinds over the years! I sincerely appreciate the qualities exhibited by those …

Its here.  The rut is on.  November Deer Season starts  Saturday. Nebraska is a deer hunting state.  And true to our title of the Mixed Bag Capital the state has 2 species of deer. To experience the most from this year’s deer season here are the five things you gotta do… 1) Find the does.  The bucks are doing just that and so should you.  Being 100 yards or so downwind of several travel routes to/from bedding areas can mean …

Cooked with red wine, this is the best chili you will ever taste. I would venture to say this is not only the best venison chili you will find, but the best chili you will ever taste, period. It differs from other chili recipes in its red wine base. Don’t spend a fortune on the wine, but get a robust variety like malbec or cabernet sauvignon that will hold up to the spices. Serve with a dollop of sour cream …

Let’s discuss the constants, myths, and what you can do to advance your white-tailed deer hunting experience during the rut. Look online, or watch outdoor television, and you’re bound to see or hear someone talking about “the rut,” one of nature’s most intriguing rituals as bucks and does appear more and more across the landscape. When exactly the rut takes place and precisely how deer – particularly whitetails – behave then is a source of great debate. Millions of dollars …

Nebraska offers a unique variety of upland hunting opportunities. The ultimate challenge? Bringing home a mixed bag of birds. Can you do it? Only one way to find out. Starting this fall, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, along with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, introduced the Nebraska Upland Slam. The concept is simple: harvest four birds – northern bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, greater prairie-chicken and a sharp-tailed grouse – in Nebraska for an official certificate, pin, bragging rights and …

DiVentures in Omaha has become one of the largest scuba schools in the Midwest. As Dean Hollis began to think about how he wanted to spend his retirement, his thoughts kept returning to the water. Hollis grew up in Florida “on, in and under the water.” When a career with ConAgra brought him to land-locked Omaha, he continued to spend time scuba diving, swimming, boating and water skiing. When he retired as Conagra’s Chief Operating Officer in 2008, he imagined …

You have heard of and perhaps been participating in the Upland Slam challenge. Maybe you’re working on successfully completing your Trout Slam. But, have you ever done a woodland double? Woodland double? What’s the “woodland double?” It is harvesting a deer and a turkey in one hunting session, when legally possible. Oh yes, after checking regulations, you will find that it’s very doable in Nebraska. It’s an unofficial competition though, more of a personal test of skill and ability. And, guess what? …

UNL students can now rent hunting equipment on campus. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln is now offering hunting equipment rentals at its Outdoor Adventure Center to any registered student on campus. In addition to bike, hike, camping, climbing and paddling gear, student hunters can now rent pop-up blinds, layout blinds, turkey decoy or waterfowl decoy combinations from the university for a small fee: $3 per day or $6 per weekend (3 days). The equipment is available through a grant partnership between …