Tickets remain available for the Ducks Unlimited Elkhorn Chapter's annual fundraising dinner and auction April 15 at The Club at Indian Creek, 202nd Street and West Maple Road.
Mike Jones, banquet chairman, said the event typically sells out at 200 people.
Tickets are $50 per person for dinner and a membership, $75 for a couple or $500 for a corporate table seating eight. The evening begins with a 5:30 p.m. social time, 7 p.m. dinner and a live auction to follow.
For more information, or to reserve tickets, contact Jones at 402-315-9438 or at mjones175@cox.net.
Volunteers needed for trash pickup
Volunteers are needed to pick up trash Saturday along the roadway around Branched Oak State Recreation Area. Volunteers should meet at the South Shore Campground (Area 1) by 9 a.m. Call Tom Morrison at 402-480-0138 for more information.
Applications open for paddlefish
The archery paddlefish application period opens Thursday and runs to April 30. The archery paddlefish season is July 10 to Aug. 8.
Archery paddlefish permits are issued by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission using a preference system. An applicant will receive a point if he or she is unsuccessful in being awarded a permit. Any person who does not apply at least once during five straight years will lose all accumulated points. Permits remaining following the first drawing will be sold on a first-come basis beginning at 1 p.m. June 1.
Buddy permits are for two applicants only. Buddy applicants must be both residents or both nonresidents. If there is a difference in preference points, the applications will be assigned to the applicant with the fewest preference points. Permits are $20 for residents and $40 for nonresidents, not including issuing fees.
Training scheduled for instructors
Training for bow hunter education apprentice instructors will be held April 8 in Norfolk.
The three-hour training begins at 6 p.m. at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission office, 2201 N. 13th St.
To register, contact hunter education coordinator Mike Streeter by April 7 at 402-471-6134 or mike.streeter@nebraska.gov.
Family fun day set at Smith Falls
A family fun day at Smith Falls State Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 17 kicks off National Park Week on the Niobrara National Scenic River.
Hands-on family activities and nature-based games are planned, said Sandi Kinzer, chief of interpretation and education at the Niobrara National Scenic River. Lunch will be provided at no charge.
Smith Falls State Park is located 19 miles east of Valentine, Neb., via Nebraska Highway 12.
Shooting available for graduates
Recent firearm-hunter education graduates have free access to certain shooting ranges and gun clubs to practice the skills, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Each student who graduated within the previous 12 months is allowed up to two opportunities at shooting ranges within the year at no cost to them or their host. Participating shooting ranges, and dates:
• Syracuse: Grandpa's Sporting Acres, April 10, 402-670-1967.
• Brainard: Oak Creek Sporting Club, April 24, 402-545-3111
• Oshkosh: North Platte Valley Sportsman's Club, April 25, 308-772-3040
• Omaha: Koch Range, May 8, 402-331-1249
• Homer: Sumac Sporting Clays, May 8, 402-698-2484
• Lincoln: Lincoln Trap and Skeet, May 15, 402-467-2153
• Kearney: Fort Kearny Shooting Sports, May 15, 308-237-4644
• North Platte: Lincoln County Wildlife and Gun Club, July 17, 308-772-3040.
Platte River Art show is April 10-11
Nationally known artists from eight states will offer their work for display and sale April 10 and 11 at the Platte River Art Show at Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Neb.
The show, held in the Peter Kiewit Lodge, is from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 10 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 11.
The Old West Rib Fest barbecue will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. both days. Meals are $5.75.
Fly-fishing workshop in May
Women are invited to develop fly-fishing skills at a Beyond Becoming an Outdoors Woman workshop May 7 to 9 near Long Pine.
Instruction will focus on fly-fishing equipment, rod set-up, knot tying, reading the water and casting, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Contact Julia Plugge at julia.plugge@nebraska.gov or 402-471-6009 to register. The deadline is April 30.
Forest thinning in two parks
Visitors may notice forest-thinning projects at Chadron State Park and near the Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area Nature Center.
The Chadron project may last through November. It will take place on two acres near cabins and on 33 acres in the south part of the park forest. Thinning will be confined to trees of 10 inches or less in diameter in the forest understory.
The Wildcat Hills project may be completed by early April. Thinning will take place on 12 acres primarily north of the Nature Center. Most of the healthy, largest trees are being retained, with more thinning planned for the forest understory.
Turkey seminar April 14 in Lincoln
A turkey hunting seminar is scheduled for April 14 at the Lincoln Izaak Walton League. The 6 p.m. event is open to the first 100 registrants.
Before the seminar, participants may pattern their shotgun and tune up their turkey calls from 4:30 to 6 p.m. They should bring their shotgun, at least five rounds of their favorite turkey load and their favorite turkey call.
Turkey hunting season began Thursday for archers and youth archers.
To register, contact Heather Weihe at heather.weihe@nebraska.gov.
Entrance fees waived during park week
All 392 national parks across America will have free admission during National Park Week, April 17 to 25.
Parks will also offer additional family friendly activities and special offers on tours, lodging, food and souvenirs. A listing of parks and promotions is available at www.nps.gov/npweek.
There will be hundreds of family friendly events April 24 for National Junior Ranger Day.
Calendar
THURSDAY
»Cornhusker Fly Fishers fly-tying workshop, 6 to 8 p.m., Cabela's, La Vista.
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