Justin Haag, Nebraskaland Magazine

Justin Haag, Nebraskaland Magazine Photographer and writer for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Nebraskaland Magazine.
(1)

06/01/2026

In June 1926, Nebraskaland, originally known as Outdoor Nebraska, was created as a bulletin to keep sportsmen informed about the agency’s work while inspiring a greater appreciation for Nebraska’s wildlife and natural beauty. Over the last century, it has evolved from a small game and fish publication into an award-winning magazine known for its stunning photography and in-depth storytelling about Nebraska’s wildlife, parks, outdoor recreation and culture.

Today, Nebraskaland Magazine continues its mission of promoting stewardship and conservation of Nebraska’s natural resources and outdoor spaces. Through breathtaking photography and engaging stories, the magazine highlights the many outdoor opportunities found across the state, from hunting and fishing to camping, boating and wildlife viewing.

As we officially enter the 100th year of Nebraskaland, we want to thank all of you who have followed along on this journey. Readers, subscribers, photographers and storytellers have helped shape the magazine for generations, and your continued support has made this milestone possible. We are grateful to celebrate 100 years of this Nebraska's outdoors with you.

Have encountered a few of these beauties lately. Amanda Filipi shared interesting information about the bullsnake for my...
05/29/2026

Have encountered a few of these beauties lately. Amanda Filipi shared interesting information about the bullsnake for my Panhandle Afield radio segment. Listen here: https://on.soundcloud.com/1yM7o2nqju1keePNEs

Here's one for heading into the weekend. Cedar waxwings are among the most handsome bird species in our region and alway...
05/29/2026

Here's one for heading into the weekend.

Cedar waxwings are among the most handsome bird species in our region and always seem to be dressed for a party. Perhaps that’s appropriate because people often talk about how the birds sometimes get wasted. They gorge on berries and small fruits, their primary food source. Sometimes those berries and fruits become naturally fermented and the birds get wobbly from eating them.

This bird seemed to be steadily perched upon a chokecherry, which, this early in the season, was surely of the non-alcoholic variety.

📍Hayes Center Wildlife Management Area

With temps dipping into the 30s, I was compelled to fire up the heater in the early morning hours of my tent slumber. Th...
05/28/2026

With temps dipping into the 30s, I was compelled to fire up the heater in the early morning hours of my tent slumber. The cool temps sure did make for some nice fog for photographing the wood ducks and Canada geese come daylight, though. And, as a bonus, I encountered no mosquitoes or ticks.

📍Camp Hayes Lake and Hayes Center Wildlife Management Area

What!? A campsite fit for a king next to a beautiful 35-acre lake? Having the place all to myself, I felt as royal as th...
05/27/2026

What!? A campsite fit for a king next to a beautiful 35-acre lake?

Having the place all to myself, I felt as royal as the Grand Duke Alexis. If you don’t get that reference about an 1872 event in the vicinity of what would later become Camp Hayes Lake and Hayes Center Wildlife Management Area, look it up.

The lake also has a fancy new boat ramp that is quite noble. Made me wish I’d brought a boat to pursue what lurks beneath the surface.

I’ve seen no evidence that the grand duke was tasked with picking up his tent in the rain as I was, but maybe that’s just because his visit was in January and not May. (And, yes, if tent camping is what it takes to make it rain, I’ll gladly do more of it.)

A wildlife research project pulled me and the photography equipment to my old southwestern Nebraska stomping grounds las...
05/26/2026

A wildlife research project pulled me and the photography equipment to my old southwestern Nebraska stomping grounds last week. I made the most of it by photographing three sunsets and three sunrises, and, of course, the wildlife and other interesting subjects encountered between.

It’s thought-provoking to visit such places with photography in mind rather than just for fun. I certainly had plenty of the latter at the southwest Nebraska reservoirs as I was growing up.

The beauty of the Pine Ridge, Sandhills and Wildcat Hills get most of my attention these days, but the southwest reservoirs will always be my first love. Because I don’t get down that way as much as I’d like to, even subtle changes to the landscape hit more noticeably. There’s a memory around every corner, and so many of the people who shared in the fun times are no longer around.

I look forward to sharing photos from the trip, the first of which is the sunrise from the day I headed back north. Similar to many of the state’s recreational waters in these dry times, the shoreline at Hugh Butler Lake north of McCook is far from where it once was.

The water level may be low, but the glass is always half full, right? Had the water not been so far down, I wouldn’t have had these pretty rocks to photograph.

📍 Red Willow State Recreation Area

Here's a scene from Run for the Hills, the race during Chadron State Park's annual anniversary celebration in June. It's...
05/20/2026

Here's a scene from Run for the Hills, the race during Chadron State Park's annual anniversary celebration in June. It's one of the countless ways people can log part of the distance required for the new Outdoor Nebraska 250-mile Challenge.

Christy Firestone tells about the 250-mile Challenge in the latest Panhandle Afield radio segment. Here's the link: https://soundcloud.com/justin-haag-330294672/panhandle-afield-250-mile

The 250-mile Challenge website: https://outdoornebraska.gov/about/press-events/events/america-250/outdoor-nebraska-250-mile-challenge/

Chadron State Park Anniversary Celebration: https://calendar.outdoornebraska.gov/event/chadron-state-park-105th-anniversary-celebration/

05/19/2026

See newborn wildlife alone outside this spring? This is a common mamas-of-the-wild tactic, and we recommend leaving the babies alone.

While the inclination may be to intervene, newborn wildlife rarely are abandoned. Instead, most mammals hide their young for safety and return throughout the day to nurse and care for them.

With that in mind, Game and Parks shares some rules of thumb on wildlife babies. Read our tips: https://brnw.ch/21x2CRP

Photo by Justin Haag

On this day in 2015: The usually diminutive White River north of Chadron floods the valley as it takes in melt from a sp...
05/13/2026

On this day in 2015: The usually diminutive White River north of Chadron floods the valley as it takes in melt from a spring snowstorm.

With the landscape being so dry this year, scenes such as this seem like a whole other world.

On this day in 2021: Mule deer stand alert during a foggy morning in the Pine Ridge of Sioux County.
05/12/2026

On this day in 2021: Mule deer stand alert during a foggy morning in the Pine Ridge of Sioux County.

Address

Chadron, NE

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Justin Haag, Nebraskaland Magazine posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share