I would go farther west if I were making a longer trip. I have hunted Harlan, and Phelps for years. Population te last 3 years has been down compared to even 50 miles west. As you go west, public ground is harder and harder to find, but there is some around Enders reservior, (Red Willow), Best area lately as been extreme Southwest, Dundy County, but you will need to knock on doors and hunt for landowners. North Central, unless you have access to really good private ground, is a waste of time. Way north in the sandhills the population has been up, but this is extremely rugged country, you will be hunting cattail marshes, and it's usually better late with snow cover, you will be literally 50 miles into the back country on roads, (trails), travelled a few times a week, maybe! If you go remember that vehicles with catalytic converters start fires when parked in tall dry grass. In the sandhills everything is tall dry grass! It's a long walk without a vehicle and the locals will be decidedly hostile if you start a fire. Best pheasant hunting in my life as been in Nebraska, just not recently.
