Nebraskaland

56 Nebraskaland • July 2021 MIXED BAG WOOD DUCK CHOSEN FOR WATERFOWL STAMP By Justin Haag A pencil drawing of a wood duck by Hannah Krein, 14, of Harrison, will be featured on the Nebraska waterfowl stamp in 2022. Krein's art topped a field of about 300 entries to earn best of show during the annual contest, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and judged by a panel in Scottsbluff in March. Through a partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, the best of show annually appears on the digital stamp that is required by hunters pursuing waterfowl in the state. The artwork also advances to be judged against the top entries of the 49 other states in the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Design Contest. This will be the second consecutive year that a wood duck appears on Nebraska's stamp. An acrylic painting of a wood duck pair, created by Sydney Smith of Morrill, was chosen last year. The Junior Duck Stamp competition is open to youth in kindergarten through 12 th grade. More information about the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation Program and how to enter may be found on the education page of the Fish and Wildlife Service's website, fws.gov. When the heat of summer hits, the lake calls, offering a promise of cool water, sandy beaches, refreshing winds and some of the most authentic natural sights of Nebraska one can find. More stars than city dwellers ever see fill the sky during a night ride at Merritt Reservoir. Bank swallows dip and dive for dinner at Branched Oak State Recreation Area. Fish fight to prove Charles Darwin's theory — and you can see it — in the clear water at Bridgeport SRA. For those who already own a boat, it doesn't take much convincing to get on the water, throw on a lifejacket and ride a towable tube or a pair of skis. They're equally easy to convince to throw anchor and float or toss in a fishing line or three. For them, boat snacks are a way of life. But for those without a ride, take heart: Days at the lake don't have to be isolated to beachfronts. Vendors at five Nebraska state recreation areas offer day-rate rentals on boats. They include: • Branched Oak • Lake McConaughy • Lake Minatare • Lake Ogallala • Merritt Reservoir At many of these locations, "boat rental" is code for pontoon, so remember to invite family and friends for added fun. Those looking for a slower pace — AKA no motor — can rent the following water vessels by the hour at these state park areas: Kayaks — Branched Oak SRA, Fort Robinson SP, Louisville SRA, Lake McConaughy SRA, Lake Minatare SRA, Pawnee SRA, Sherman Reservoir SRA, and Smith Falls SP Canoes — Calamus SRA, Louisville SRA, Platte River SP, and Smith Falls SP Stand-up paddleboards — Branched Oak SRA, Lake McConaughy SRA, and Louisville SRA Paddleboats — Chadron SP, Louisville SRA, Mahoney SP, Platte RiverSP, and Victoria Springs SRA Three-wheel water bikes — Louisville SRA So this summer, when the thermostat inches toward 90 degrees, remember a beach is great, but a boat … well, it's just better. A wood duck by Hannah Krein of Harrison won the 2022 Nebraska waterfowl stamp. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND DON'T MISS THE BOAT By Shawna Richter-Ryerson Boaters ride their pontoon on Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation Area. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND

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