Bumpus' "Bites from our NGPC"

[Harold]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Use Caution to Avoid Deer-Vehicle Collisions

LINCOLN, Neb. – Deer become more active in the fall and because of it, drivers should be more alert than ever when out on the road.
Deer pose a potentially dangerous threat to themselves and the occupants of vehicles traveling Nebraska highways and country roads, especially during October and November.
As the harvest begins, crop and cover patterns will change quickly and daylight hours will become shorter. As the deer breeding season approaches, deer will have many things to distract them. Deer activity increases and movement peaks each day near dawn and just after dusk.
Here are some things drivers can do to try to avoid deer-vehicle accidents:
-- When driving near shelterbelts, woodlots, creeks, or where crops are still standing, especially during evening or early morning, reduce your speed and watch for deer.
-- When you spot a deer, assume there will be others in the same area, either ahead of or behind the one you have seen.
-- Be prepared to stop suddenly.
-- Many places where deer are known to travel are posted with deer crossing signs, but the absence of a sign does not mean a deer will not unexpectedly appear.
-- Deer often seem to be disoriented or confused by headlights. Some react by freezing in the light, some dart into the path of the vehicle, others bolt away in the opposite direction. Sometimes deer that have just crossed the road ahead of the vehicle suddenly change direction and run back into the path of a vehicle or collide with it.
-- Honk your horn and flash your headlights to frighten deer away from the side of the road. If there is other traffic on the road, you can activate your emergency flashers and tap your brakes to alert other drivers to the potential danger.
-- Anticipate the possibility of a deer unexpectedly crossing in front of you and plan ahead to avoid swerving, turning or braking the vehicle too sharply if a deer suddenly appears.
If a deer is struck and the driver wants to salvage it, the driver may possess the deer but must contact a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission conservation officer within 24 hours to obtain a salvage tag.

Living History Scheduled for Fort Atkinson SHP

LINCOLN, Neb. – The final living history event of the season at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP) will be Oct. 3-4. Volunteer interpreters will portray life as it was at this 1820s-era military post, the nation's first military post west of the Missouri River.
Demonstrations of period trades and crafts will take place from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors will see blacksmithing, tinsmithing, carpentry, coopering, quilting, textile trades, and period cooking. A reenactment of a funeral will take place on Oct. 4 at 2:30 p.m.
Fort Atkinson SHP is 7 blocks east of U.S. Highway 75 in Fort Calhoun. A park entry permit is required.

Water Flowing into Bowling Lake

LINCOLN, Neb. – Water is flowing into Bowling Lake again following repairs to a pumping system. The lake in northwest Lincoln should reach full pool by the end of October.
The City of Lincoln, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Nebraska Environmental Trust, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission worked together to rehabilitate the aquatic habitat and fishing at Bowling Lake from 2007 to 2009. Part of the project included replacement of the water pump and intake structure. The lake was partially filled in 2008, but a series of breakdowns and repairs have prevented complete filling of the lake. Repairs have been completed and pumping began on Sept. 18.
Anglers will find catchable-size bluegill, largemouth bass and channel catfish in Bowling Lake now and rainbow trout when they are stocked this fall and winter. Fishing in the lake should continue to improve in coming years. Wrong Season Dates Listed in October NEBRASKAland

LINCOLN, Neb. – The October issue of NEBRASKAland Magazine incorrectly lists the dates of the 2009 youth season for pheasant, quail and partridge as well as the opening date of the general pheasant, quail and partridge seasons. The 2009 general season for those species opens Oct. 31, and the youth season is Oct. 24-25.
The October issue features a photo essay, “America's Lingering Wild,” by Michael Forsberg, who traveled nearly 100,000 miles to document the wild in the Great Plains for his new book. His story is one of many in the new issue, which will be arriving in mailboxes and at newsstands soon.
In the issue, Regional Editor Eric Fowler details the history of his passion for hunting in “Why I Hunt,” and a photo essay by Editor Doug Carroll entitled “The State Fair Says Goodbye to Lincoln” reveals some of the sights at the annual event.
NEBRASKAland is published 10 times a year and is available at Commission offices and newsstands across the state or by subscription. Subscribe by calling (800) NEB-LAND (632-5263) or at NebraskalandMagazine.com.

October Outdoor Calendar

LINCOLN, Neb. – The following is a listing of Nebraska Game and Parks Commission events in October:
Oct. 1
-- Crow hunting season opens
Oct. 2
-- Becoming an Outdoors-Woman Workshop, 4-H Camp, Halsey, 10 a.m., $185, (402) 471-5482
Oct. 3
-- Pioneer Longrifle Rendezvous, Indian Cave State Park (SP), free, park permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Living History Demonstrations, Fort Atkinson State Historical Park (SHP), 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., free, park permit required, (402) 468-5611
-- Autumn Harvest Art Show, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., free, park entry permit required, (402) 944-2523
-- Bird Banding, Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Schramm Park State Recreation Area (SRA), 9 a.m., free, (402) 332-3901
Oct. 4
-- Pioneer Longrifle Rendezvous, Indian Cave State Park (SP), free, park permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Living History Demonstrations, Fort Atkinson SHP, 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m., free, park permit required, (402) 468-5611
-- Autumn Harvest Art Show, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., free, park entry permit required, (402) 944-2523
-- Living History Demonstrations, Arbor Lodge SHP, 1-5 p.m., mansion admission: $4 adults and $1 children, park permit required, (402) 873-7222
Oct. 9
-- Haunted Hollow Hayrack Rides, Indian Cave SP, 7:30 p.m., park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Campground Decorating Contest, Indian Cave SP, park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- October Antlerless deer hunting season opens
Oct. 10
-- Hallowfest, Ponca SP, park entry permit required, (402) 755-2284
-- Haunted Hollow Hayrack Rides, Indian Cave SP, 7:30 p.m., park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Campground Decorating Contest, Indian Cave SP, park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- October Antlerless deer hunting season
-- Firearm antelope hunting season opens
-- Dark goose hunting season opens in North Central Unit
-- Light goose hunting season opens
-- White-fronted goose hunting season opens
-- Duck hunting season opens in High Plains and Low Plains Early units
Oct. 11
-- October Antlerless deer hunting season closes
-- Competitive Horse Trail Ride, Indian Cave SP, park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Living History Demonstrations, Arbor Lodge SHP, 1-5 p.m., mansion admission: $4 adults and $1 children, park permit required, (402) 873-7222
Oct. 12
-- Competitive Horse Trail Ride, Indian Cave SP, park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
Oct. 16
-- Haunted Hollow Hayrack Rides, Indian Cave SP, 7:30 p.m., park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Campground Decorating Contest, Indian Cave SP, park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
Oct. 17
-- Hallowfest, Ponca SP, park entry permit required, (402) 755-2284
-- Haunted Hollow Hayrack Rides, Indian Cave SP, 7:30 p.m., park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Campground Decorating Contest, Indian Cave SP, park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Duck hunting season begins in Low Plains Late Unit
Oct. 18
-- Living History Demonstrations, Arbor Lodge SHP, 1-5 p.m., mansion admission: $4 adults and $1 children, park permit required, (402) 873-7222
Oct. 23
-- Holiday Craft Show/Old West Cookout, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 4-8 p.m., park permit required, (402) 944-2523
Oct. 24
-- Holiday Craft Show/Old West Cookout, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., park permit required, (402) 944-2523
-- Campground Decorating Contest, Indian Cave SP, park entry permit required, (402) 883-2575
-- Youth pheasant, quail and partridge hunting season opens
-- Dark goose hunting season opens in East, Platte River and Niobrara units
Oct. 25
-- Holiday Craft Show/Old West Cookout, Eugene T. Mahoney SP, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., park permit required, (402) 944-2523
-- Youth pheasant, quail and partridge hunting season closes
Oct. 29
-- Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners meeting, Pheasant Bonanza, Tekamah, 8 a.m.
Oct. 31
-- Pheasant, quail and partridge hunting season opens