LINCOLN, Neb. – It’s never too early to make plans for outdoor adventures in 2009. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offers some reminders for the start of the new year.

To best enjoy the outdoors, it is a good idea to plan ahead. Don’t wait for the day of a trip to pack the vehicle, shop for a campground, and purchase permits.

Here’s a checklist of items to think about now and in the coming months:

– Park permits: Buy a 2009 park entry permit. Get that sticker on your vehicle now and it’ll be one less thing to remember to do when you head out on a parks visit or a fishing trip.

– Boat registration: Check now for your renewal date. Registrations are issued for three-year periods and only may be obtained from the county treasurer in the boater’s county of residence.

– Hunting permits and stamps: Get these requirements out of the way early and enjoy many successful days in the field. Permits for spring turkey hunting will be sold beginning Jan. 12.

– Get involved: Call the Commission to become a volunteer in any of a number of programs, such as hunter education, mentored youth hunts, campground host, and youth fishing.

– Read and research: Some key publications to read are the 2009 Nebraska Boating Guide, the 2009 Nebraska Fishing Guide, and the 2009 Nebraska Spring and Fall Turkey Hunting Seasons brochure. Go online to the Commission’s Web site, OutdoorNebraska.org, to research parks, hunting and fishing regulations, etc. There you also will find the Nebraska Hunter Requirements, a chart to help hunters young and old determine what is required of them before they may hunt in Nebraska.

– Get educated: Obtain any required hunter or boater education certificate sooner rather than later. Again, it’s one less thing to have to do later in the year.

– Plan a trip: The Commission’s Web site has everything a person would need to make arrangements. For example, there are regulations, park videos, campground maps, lake contour maps, fish stocking reports, and trail guides for hiking, biking and canoeing.

– OutdoorNebraska.org: Permits may be purchased and campsites reserved online.

Do some homework and make arrangements ahead of time to ensure a stress-free trip outdoors in 2009.