HONEY CREEK, Iowa — Strap on some snowshoes and trek through the Loess Hills during Hitchcock Nature Center's guided snowshoe hikes on Saturday.
Hikes are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. They are $5 per person and include the guided hike, refreshments and use of snowshoes. Call 712-242-1197 to pre-register.
Camping season
The calendar may say February, but for campers, that spring outing is just around the corner. The three-month campsite reservation window in Iowa stretches to the end of April.
The past three years have been busy for state parks campgrounds, said Kevin Szcodronski, chief of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources State Parks Bureau. The slow economy has kept many Iowans close to home for their recreation.
"Our reservations have been strong during the down economy, which increases the competition for available sites," he said. "If 2012 is anything like the previous three years, I would encourage campers to make their reservations early if they want to get their preferred sites in their preferred park."
Camping season is already here on the DNR's campsite reservation website: http://iowastateparks.reserveamerica.com/
Goose conservations
LINCOLN — Efforts to control the light goose population continue with the Light Goose Conservation Order, which begins Monday.
The dates for the conservation order are: Zone 1, Feb. 6 through April 15; Zone 2, Feb. 6 through April 1; and Zone 3, Feb. 6 through April 15.
White and blue-phase snow geese and Ross' geese may be taken statewide during the conservation order, but different regulations apply in each zone. Read the 2011 Nebraska Waterfowl Guide, which includes regulations for the 2012 conservation order, at OutdoorNebraska.org.
There is a considerable effort to reduce the mid-continent snow goose population because of the damage it has caused to sub-Arctic and Arctic habitats. States annually are allowed a given number of days for waterfowl hunting. The need for additional hunting, for population control, requires a special action, such as the conservation order. The use of methods to increase harvest has resulted in more than a million snow geese being harvested annually since 1998.
There are no bag or possession limits during the conservation order and hunters may shoot 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Hunters may use unplugged shotguns and electronic calls during the conservation action. Permits may be purchased at OutdoorNebraska.org.
Calendar
MONDAY
• Light Goose Conservation Order hunting begins
TUESDAY
• Public informational waterfowl meeting, Lincoln
THURSDAY
• Cornhusker Fly Fishers fly-tying workshop, 6 to 8 p.m., Cabela's, La Vista.
FRIDAY
• Two-day firearm hunter education class, Wilber
SATURDAY
• Firearm hunter education field day, Auburn
SUNDAY
• Firearm hunter and bowhunter education field day, Aurora
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.
Copyright ©2012 Omaha World-Herald®. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, displayed or redistributed for any purpose without permission from the Omaha World-Herald.
