Visit the Habitat Hangout to see a demonstration food plot, cover crops, and pollinator habitat planting established by Standing C Excavating (Linwood, NE). They offer custom farm and ranch improvements and habitat and food plot management.
Do you have a first aid kit for your bird dog or feel prepared to deal with an injury in the field? Dr. Mike Brown, DVM, is an avid hunter and leads a team of vets at Yankee Hill Veterinary Hospital in Lincoln, NE. He’ll share his expertise in veterinary care so that you’ll be ready for the next hunting trip.
Kaj Larson of Hunt’em Up Kennels (Tescott, KS) is an experienced trainer and dog handler with a passion for the German Shorthaired Pointer. Whether you’re interested in starting a bird dog or looking to develop skills for field trials and hunt tests, Kaj can help improve your knowledge as a dog handler.
Family Fun Zone
| Pollinator Habitat Planting | We’re celebrating National Pollinator Week at the State Habitat Meeting! Learn about the importance of native plants and help plant habitat for pollinators. |
| Be a Biologist with Radio Telemetry | Where is Rudy Rooster? Learn how biologists use wildlife radio telemetry to find and track those tricky birds in the wild. |
| BB Gun Range | Are you a sure shot? Try your hand at our BB Gun Range. |
| 3-D Archery Range | Introduce youth to archery or improve their archery skills by taking aim at 3-D, point-based targets. *Available for ages 5 and up. |
| Bee Hotels | Native bees across Nebraska need a spot to rest too! Learn about native bees and build your own bee hotel. |
| Who Pooped in the Park | We promise it’s not stinky! Stop on by to learn about Nebraska wildlife by what they leave behind. |
| Touch and See Table | Whether it be fuzzy or feathered, explore Nebraska mammals and birds by getting hands on! |
| Feather Painting | Feather painting is an activity for all ages that can turn a left behind feather into a piece of art. |
Don’t forget your activity passport! You’ll receive a stamp for completing each activity. Visit all the stations in the Family Fun Zone and enter for a chance to win a Ringneck or Whistler youth membership.
Habitat Hangout
| Prescribed Fire Station | Fire is good! Stop by to learn about prescribed fire’s benefits across the state and how you can get involved. Check out the Mobile Prescribed Burn equipment trailer and lean how to join a local Prescribed Burn Association. |
| No-Till Drill Calibration | Are you planning to rent a no-till drill from Pheasants Forever but would like a little extra guidance? We’ll show you how to set up a drill to plant at the correct seeding rate and depth. |
| Habitat Demonstration Plots | Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever offer a variety of seed options to fit any goal you might have. See a demonstration food plot, cover crop, and pollinator habitat planting. Biologists will be available to talk about habitat establishment, wildlife management, and soil health. |
| Soil Health and Cover Crops | Learn how planting a diverse cover crop as part of a cropping rotation can benefit soil health, weed suppression, grazing utilization, wildlife, and pollinators. |
| Pollinator Habitat and Plant ID | Pheasants Forever biologists will share their expertise identifying plants in the field. |
Wild Kitchen
| Wild Kitchen Recipes | Wild Kitchen chefs share their favorite recipes and delicious samples. |
| Wild Edibles | Learn how to identify and collect wild edible plants and mushrooms. |
Dog Training
| Bird Dog Training |  Kaj Larson, owner and operator of Hunt’em Up Kennels, is passionate about bird dogs. He specializes in breeding, raising and training versatile German Shorthaired Pointers for the home and field. |
| First-Aid and Field Care |  Looking for pet care tips, and preventative health care advice to keep your bird dog happy and healthy? Dr. Mike Brown, DVM, is an avid hunter and leads a team of vets at Yankee Hill Veterinary Hospital in Lincoln, NE. |
Shooting Sports
| Shotgun Fit & Shooting Instruction | The best shotgun is a properly fitting shotgun that shoots where you look. Certified instructors will help you understand the basics of shotgun fit and fundamentals of shooting to improve your skills. |
Frozen Treats
 The Snow food truck will be serving premium Hawaiian shaved ice all day. Stop by for a cool treat. And remember, yellow snow never tasted so good! |
| 9:00 AM | Bird Dog Training—Dog Training Zone Kaj Larson of Hunt’em Up Kennels presents techniques and tips to improve your dog handling skills. |
| 10:00 AM | Pollinator Habitat Planting—Family Fun Zone June 26th marks the end of the 2021 Pollinator Week. Pollinators are an important part of all of our lives. Give back by planting a wildflower for pollinators. |
| 10:00 AM | Improving Soil Health and Wildlife Habitat—Habitat Hangout Precision Ag Coordinator, Nathan Pflueger discusses the wide-ranging benefits of cover crops. |
| 11:00 AM | Habitat Management Planning—Habitat Hangout Looking for ways to establish, maintain, or improve habitat? Join our Wildlife Biologists to learn about innovative ways to integrate conservation practices on the landscape. |
| 11:00 AM | Wild Kitchen: Duck Poppers—Main Street Shelter |
| 11:00 AM -1:00 PM | LUNCH—Skeeter Bar nes in the Main Event TentBBQ sandwich meals are $12 for adults and $6 for youth (not included with registration fee) and will be paid on site. |
| 11:00 AM -1:00 PM | Raffles and Fundraising Games—Main Event Tent |
| 12:00 PM | Award Presentations—Main Event Tent Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever of Nebraska present 2021 State Awards to outstanding conservationists. |
| 1:00 PM | Establishing Successful Food and Cover Plots for Wildlife—Habitat Hangout From site prep and to planting, a lot of effort goes into quality food plots. Learn how to maximize habitat potential and use for target wildlife species. |
| 1:00 PM | Wild Kitchen: Wild Game Kabobs—Main Street Shelter |
| 2:00 PM | Pollinator Habitat Planting—Family Fun Zone June 26th marks the end of the 2021 Pollinator Week. Pollinators are an important part of all of our lives. Give back by planting a wildflower for pollinators. |
| 2:00 PM | Wild Kitchen—Main Street Shelter Learn how to prepare a great recipe with wild game and other wild edibles. |
| 2:00 PM | Bird Dog Training—Dog Training Zone Kaj Larson of Hunt’em Up Kennels presents techniques and tips to improve your dog handling skills. |
| 3:00 PM | Field Care and First Aid for Dogs—Dog Training Zone Dr. Mike Brown, DVM shares veterinary care knowledge to help you be prepared in the field. |
| 2:00 PM | Wild Kitchen: Fried Pheasant, Quail, & Fish—Main Street Shelter |
| 3:00 PM | Wildlife Habitat Selection—Family Fun Zone Learn how biologists use radio telemetry equipment to track and study habitat selection of pheasants, quail, and other wildlife. |
| 3:30 PM | Lifetime Hunt Permit Drawing—Main Event Tent Nebraska residents, 15 and under, have a free chance to win a Lifetime Hunt Permit. Tickets will be available until 3:15 PM. You do not need to be present to win. |
State Habitat Meeting
$5.00 – $25.00
Join us this summer, June 26th, at Heartland Public Shooting Park for a fun-filled day of habitat education and outdoor activities for the whole family to enjoy. This year’s State Habitat Meeting features a variety of habitat demonstration plots, hands-on activities for youth, dog training and field care, shooting instruction, gun fitting, and much more. Register by June 24 and you’ll receive a discount on a regular registration!
Heartland Public Shooting Park
6788 W Husker Hwy
Alda, NE 68810
8:00AM – 4:00PM CST
30 Years of State Habitat Meetings
We’re excited to be outdoors for the 30th anniversary of the State Habitat Meeting and hope you’ll join us! The State Habitat Meeting brings together people who are passionate about habitat. This year’s event features a variety of habitat demonstration plots, hands-on activities for youth, dog training and field care, shooting instruction, gun fitting, and much more.
Habitat and a Whole Lot More to Enjoy
Learn how to calibrate a no-till drill, see examples of different types of wildlife habitat, plant a wildflower, and sample wild game recipes. These are just a few of the many great offerings at the 2021 State Habitat Meeting. Check out the agenda and schedule for more information.
Celebrate Pollinator Week
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are proud sponsors of the Pollinator Partnership, which promotes the health of pollinators, critical to food and ecosystems, through conservation, education, and science. June 21 -27 marks this year’s Pollinator Week and you’ll find plenty of pollinator activities at the State Habitat Meeting such as planting for pollinators, nesting boxes for native bees, and a pollinator habitat field demonstration.
Win a Youth Lifetime Permit to Hunt
Nebraska residents 15 and under are eligible to to enter a free drawing for a Nebraska Lifetime Permit to Hunt. Tickets will be available until 3:15 PM in the the Main Event Tent. We’ll draw 2 winners at 3:30 PM. Participants do not need to be present to win. These permits are made possible through Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever of Nebraska in partnership with the Nebraska Game and Parks Foundation, Dorothy B. David Foundation, the Hawkins Family, and Cabela’s.