With goose hunters out in force, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has the following safety reminders:
• Dress in layers to stay warm.
• Be aware of the symptoms of hypothermia, which can affect your judgment and ability to control a shotgun.
• Before hunting, practice mounting and maintaining control of the shotgun while wearing cold-weather clothing.
• Do not get careless or excited when in a blind, including a lay-down blind. Control the muzzle. When hunting with others, know safe zones of fire and communicate with them about who is going to shoot where.
• Never put a loaded shotgun in or take it out of a blind. Unload it, then check to make sure it is unloaded. Wait until you are settled in the blind before loading.
• Be sure of your target and what is beyond it.
Target shooting area closed
Bramble Wildlife Management Area has been closed to target shooting. The 93-acre area is located along the Platte River 3 miles east of Morse Bluff in Saunders County.
"We have had some valid concerns about safety," said Pat Molini, southeast district wildlife manager of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. "The area is small and flat, so it does not allow for safe target shooting."
Bluegill winners at Okoboji
Josh Lowe finished first with 10 bluegill weighing 5.74 pounds at the Recycled Fish Okoboji Hardwater Open earlier this month at Little Emerson's Bay at West Lake Okoboji.
Local fishing guide John Grosvenor caught the Berkley Big Fish of the day with a .84 pound bluegill.
Ponca Super Bowl package
Ponca State Park is offering a Super Bowl package for guests at its minilodges next weekend.
The package includes two nights lodging at a 30-percent discount, five free bundles of firewood, two free pizzas and a 1 p.m. checkout. A one-night package also is available.
Ponca's minilodges have four bedrooms, two baths, a 42-inch television with cable, kitchen, fireplace and wireless Internet.
To get this special offer, call the park at 402-755-2284 and mention the Super Bowl.
A park entry permit is required of each vehicle entering the park.
Calendar
TUESDAY
• Squirrel hunting season closes
• Grouse hunting season closes
• Pheasant, quail and partridge seasons close
• December late firearm pronghorn antelope hunting season closes
THURSDAY
• Cornhusker Fly Fishers fly-tying workshop, 6 to 8 p.m., Cabela's, La Vista.
FRIDAY
• Boat sports and travel show, Lincoln's Lancaster Event Center, 84th and Havelock. Friday noon to 8 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
SATURDAY
• Chadron State Wildlife Club ice fishing tournament at Box Butte Reservoir, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m. Entry fee is $15 for one person and $30 for a two-man team. Contact Jake Rodiek at jarodi@eagles.csc.edu or 308-293-4874, Jason Clark at jaclar2@eagles.csc.edu or 402-718-7300, or Adam Bahl at adbahl@eagles.csc.edu or 308-641-2726.
SUNDAY
• Nebraska Walleye Association meeting, 1 p.m., Cabela's in La Vista. Pro walleye fisherman Dave Harmon will speak.
Submit calendar items or trophy pictures to outdoors@owh.com or Outdoors Sports, World-Herald Sports Dept., 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102. A daytime or cell phone number must be included with trophy pictures.
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