Learn about owls on an evening hike Friday at Hitchcock Nature Center.
Weather permitting, participants will search and call for the great horned owl, barred owl and eastern screech owl. All ages are welcome. Cost is $2 per person; children 5 and under are free.
Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge. The nature center is five miles north of Crescent, Iowa.
Junior Naturalist registration deadline
Today is the registration deadline for the first Iowa Junior Naturalist program of the year Feb. 13 at Hitchcock Nature Center.
Weather permitting, participants ages 11 to 14 will learn about snowshoeing and mammal tracking. The program begins at 1 p.m. Meet at the Loess Hills Lodge. Cost is $4 per person.
Participants will receive an Iowa Junior Naturalist patch and certificate after attending three nature-themed public programs and completing two independent activities. Call 712-242-1197 to pre-register.
Other junior naturalist programs: Build a Bird House, May 15; Prairie Pride, July 10; and Life in the Bin (composting), Nov. 6.
North Platte team takes Thornton title
Drew Armstrong and Andy Young of North Platte, Neb., won the annual Cork Thornton Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament at Merritt Reservoir.
The 31st annual event attracted 36 two-person teams who braved 50-mph wind gusts and snow flurries sweeping across the Sand Hills lake near Valentine, Neb., said Steve Isom of Valentine, the tournament director.
Armstrong and Young caught 13.84 pounds of fish using jigs and minnows in 40 feet of water. They fished the snake arm area of the reservoir during the Jan. 24 tournament.
Other top finishers:
2, Dan Priel of Cambridge and Kent Priel of North Platte, 10.11 pounds; 3, Ted and Nathan Lindstedt of Cozad, 8.23 pounds; 4, Scott and Monte Mares of Lincoln, 8.01 pounds; 5, Russ and Rich Reiser of Thedford, 5.84 pounds.
Large fish awards:
Crappie, Kent Priel and Scott Mares (tie), 1.44 pounds; bluegill, Tracy Spencer of Mullen, .61 pounds; bass (white), Gary Kurtzer, Lincoln, 2.1 pounds; perch, Dan Morrison, Valentine, 1.2 pounds; walleye, Byron Harrison, Casper, Wyo., 3.76 pounds.
Wetland, habitat meetings this week
Hunters, landowners, conservationists and others have two opportunities this week to hear the latest information about Nebraska wetland and upland wildlife habitat.
The 15th annual Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Informational Seminar is Wednesday at the Quality Hotel and Convention Center in Hastings. Registration is closed but information is available at 402-462-6771.
The annual Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever State Habitat Meeting is Saturday at the Ramada Inn in Kearney. Go to www.NebraskaPF.com for registration and other information.
Two Rivers caboose dates extended
The availability of lodging in the Union Pacific cabooses at Two Rivers State Recreation Area near Omaha has been expanded.
Guests may stay in the cabooses from May 1 through Sept. 30. In the past, the cabooses were available Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Two Rivers is near the junction of the Platte and Elkhorn rivers west of Omaha on West Center Road (Nebraska Highway 92). Reservations may be made by calling 402-471-1414 or visiting OutdoorNebraska.org.
CALENDAR
THURSDAY
• Cornhusker Fly Fishers fly-tying workshop, 6 to 8 p.m., Cabela's, La Vista.
FRIDAY
• Nebraska Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Lancaster Event Center, North 84th Street and Havelock Avenue, Lincoln, noon to 9 p.m., $8 adults, $4 under 12, free under 5. Military veterans free. All Scouts in uniform free with paid adult.
SATURDAY
• Small Boat Bass Club outdoorsmen's swap meet and flea market, Omaha Holiday Inn convention center, 72nd Street and Interstate 80, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., $3 admission.
• 300 Yard Bench Rest Shoot. Lincoln Izaak Walton League, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., half mile south of 134th and Highway 2. Fee: $10. Contact Mike Shapoval at 402-420-5763 or mike10shapoval@windstream.net.
• Nebraska Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Lancaster Event Center, North 84th Street and Havelock Avenue, Lincoln, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., $8 adults, $4 under 12, free under 5. All Scouts in uniform free with paid adult.
SUNDAY
• Nebraska Boat, Sport and Travel Show, Lancaster Event Center, North 84th Street and Havelock Avenue, Lincoln, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., $8 adults, $4 under 12, free under 5. All Scouts in uniform free with paid adult.
Please submit Calendar items to outdoors@owh.com or send to Outdoors Sports, World-Herald Sports Dept., 1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102.
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