Nebraska's Wildlife Management Areas provide opportunities for adventure
As the semester draws closer to an end, the sense of stress levels rising on campus is palpable. Finding a way to relieve that stress is super important. There are many ways to relieve stress but one of the most time-tested and effective is getting outdoors.
Suppose you are feeling stressed and want to get outside to relieve that. Consider one of our local wildlife management areas. Wildlife Management areas, known as WMAs, are defined by the state as “areas that are managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s Wildlife Division for the enhancement of wildlife habitat and for public hunting and fishing.”
You may not be a hunter or an angler, but this land is open to everybody. The WMA regulations state, “Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are open to many other activities, such as hiking, bird watching, nature study, horseback riding, and primitive camping.” This being said, taxes on hunting and fishing equipment, as well as hunting and fishing licenses, pay for this land to be maintained, so it's important to give hunters and anglers priority of use. Be responsible and check hunting seasons and other regulations before you go traipsing into the woods.
The area around Lincoln has many great options for utilizing a WMA. To the southwest of Lincoln, Yankee Hill State Wildlife Management Area is a great option! With a large lake and the beautiful surrounding land, Yankee Hill is the perfect place to relax. If you are an angler, visiting Yankee Hill is a must with some of the best fishing in the state. If you are not into fishing, there is hiking and plenty of great spots to just sit and observe nature. Yankee Hill also allows primitive camping, for when you feel like getting off campus for an outdoor adventure, but don't want to travel too far. And the best part is it's free to camp; no permits required!
Another great WMA is the Oak Glen Wildlife Management area. Oak Glen is located just to the west of Branched Oak Lake and is a perfect area to spend an afternoon exploring. A gully runs through the WMA and is filled with all sorts of cool, old stuff to take a look at and explore. The Oak Glen Wildlife Management area is specifically managed for turkeys, so be respectful of their hunting season. With plenty of area to explore and ground to cover, Oak Glen is a great place to go birding and enjoy some wildlife observation.
Wildlife Management areas are a great resource and maybe next time you are feeling stressed consider running off into the woods at one of Nebraska's Wildlife Management Areas.
By Tobin Cambigue