First day in Western Nebraska

[airmedic1]

I'm a little disappointed, I've been hearing there are more pheasants this year but my experience yesterday does not indicate that is correct.
I hunted a half section of harvested milo with plenty of grain on the ground, harvested corn one one side and wheat stubble on the other side and never saw anything!
I moved to 160 acres of knee high wheat stubble with harvested corn beside the field. Nothing!
Last place was a tree row on private ground that has ALWAYS produced a bird or two and still nothing! My dogs never even seemed interested!
It might be a long year but I'm going out again today.

 

[Uplandhunter67]

I drove from my place in NWKS to Cheyenne a few weeks ago taking mostly the untraveled back roads and both coming and going I didn’t see a single bird.
It is quite concerning as just a few years ago there was a plentiful supply all through the Imperial to Oglalla area.
I’m sure it is good to get out just the same. Hope you find some today!
Good luck!

 

[Bird Buster]

I hunted the opener last Saturday in SW Nebraska, spent the afternoon driving around walk in areas. Drove a total of 80 miles and didn't see any birds along the roads or hunters either. I bagged 2 on private land in the morning and that was the only birds I saw all day. Pretty tough going again this year looks like.

 

[airmedic1]

I went out again yesterday and hunted a patch of knee high wheat stubble that has always been good in the past and then a private ground patch that has always produced before. I saw one rooster and one hen. Didn’t have a show at the rooster. Guess I’m going to have to do some traveling!

 

[Bigdave]

I live in Wyoming and use to hunt western and southwestern Nebraska a lot. I grew up in Nebraska and never missed opening day in 30 years. I’m not even going to Nebraska this year, waste of time. I talked with people that hunted last couple weekends with same results, no birds anywhere, just predators, coyotes and coons. My only choice locally is Wyomings pen raised birds, great program and they been doing it for 50 years. But they are pen raised birds. I will be going to South Dakota again this year, Nebraska game and fish doesn’t get it or doesn’t care.

 

[Frangler]

Hunted hard today and bird numbers are definitely not where they were six years ago in the large swath of country I covered. There’s also a ton of corn up and with all the rain I wonder when or if it will get picked. Hunted with four GSP’s two veterans and two rookies but they all can find birds and it was a grind. Had a few hiccups where one of my females would point a rooster and just as I would get to within 15 yards or so bum rush and flush them. Cost me several shots today since I’m not going to reward that behavior but overall looking rough in western Nebraska… luckily the sharpies are doing ok.

 

[Hunthemup]

A few days late to this party but I have been out of town.
Spoke to the farmer that I have known for 30+ years in SW NEB. He told me tough hunting due to some late harvesting , reduction of habitat and just not ideal weather condition when it was most important. Therefore not alot of bird sighting while in the fields. However, good dogs and lots of boot miles could produce a few birds. I have always hunted his land with public walk in fields to fill in the last day. He gave me a similar report last year and it proved accurate. I will wait until he gives me a more promising report to really hit it hard. This year will be more like scouting around between NE Colorado and SW Neb. I do enjoy just being out and letting my dogs get the bugs out from a long summer. Beats the couch