SW nebraska

rangerman

rangerman

Member
Contemplating a trip to SW nebraska sometime next week. Hunted there from 2017 - 2020 (6 trips), drought motivated to try else where. Been to SD 2x this fall. Would of like to return or try Iowa, however, deep snow and extreme cold has directed this old man with 3 dogs elsewhere.

Am I wasting mental thoughts and money Contemplating this decision?? Or should I hold out for a December thaw in those aforementioned states?
 
Are you wanting to hunt public land in this area? I hunt a lot of private in this area and it has been fair but public stuff is pretty bad. Not sure how some of it qualifies to be enlisted.
 
I was planning to hunt all public. Hunted the area from 2017 to 2020. Was very good 17, 18, started to slide in 19 and 20 was unsatisfactory. Primarily, due to drought and crp haying. I have 3 seasoned dogs. Weather and snow depth in SD and iowa have me looking elsewhere.
 
Try it. It beats the couch. The only way to get birds is working it and if you have good experienced dogs then it will pay off.
Birds are there but putting the miles will assure you some sucess. I did that and got 2 birds each day on a 2 day hunt, missed a few and saw a few more. The dog enjoyed it.
 
Went this last weekend south central west of Mcook and hunted 3 days. Never saw any birds standing around, in the road, ditch, anywhere. Walked a lot of public and saw 1 covey qual, 2 singles at another spot and a total of 3 roosters and one hen..PRETTY BLEAK out there. Great cover and conditions,just no birds at all. So bad the dogs had to start pointing Meadow Larks. Had fun camping, but the hunting was terrible. I had given up on NE but my brother lives there and wanted to give it another try. At least half of the walk-ins were picked corn fields. Anyone know why Nebraska game & fish would pay for this? Seems pretty shady to us. Heading back to a state that cares about upland hunters and knows how to manage resources, South Dakota
 
I hunted around Grant and Elise area a few weeks ago. Just hit walkin areas, no private. Cover was in awesome shape. Some of best cover I have seen hunting that area for 30+ years. But birds were few and far between. I got one each day for 5 days! Saw no quail or grouse, which was unusual. Also hunted up north, south of Martin, SD for a day. It was not any better there. Great cover but few birds. Did see more grouse. Things got way better when I hunted SD!! This was a typical picture each day for SW NE. Note the dog boots—- bring them!! Most areas had A LOT of sand spurs!! Good luck
 

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Bigdave said:
Anyone know why Nebraska game & fish would pay for this? Seems pretty shady to us. Heading back to a state that cares about upland hunters and knows how to manage resources, South Dakota
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Boy that's a good question, I can't get anyone in Game and Parks to answer that. I honestly don't think they really care about anything but being able to brag they have "X" amount of acres in their program. They think it's just the number of acres that counts, not whether it has any cover or any game! Here's a prime example of 320 acres in their program program! What game animal or bird is going to use this?IMG_1572.jpeg
 
airmedic1 said:
Boy that's a good question, I can't get anyone in Game and Parks to answer that. I honestly don't think they really care about anything but being able to brag they have "X" amount of acres in their program. They think it's just the number of acres that counts, not whether it has any cover or any game! Here's a prime example of 320 acres in their program program! What game animal or bird is going to use this?View attachment 12609
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In general I think game and parks thinks about game and parks and not a lot about hunters. They completely dropped the ball on pheasant hunting and tried to rely on turkeys and deer. In the past pheasant hunters carried the ball. Now deer hunting is backing off. I guess game wardens will just start goin to schools and giving classes on how things used to be.
 
airmedic1 said:
Boy that's a good question, I can't get anyone in Game and Parks to answer that. I honestly don't think they really care about anything but being able to brag they have "X" amount of acres in their program. They think it's just the number of acres that counts, not whether it has any cover or any game! Here's a prime example of 320 acres in their program program! What game animal or bird is going to use this?View attachment 12609
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Pierce County has been decent for thr dog and I.
 
That county is in the opposite end of the State this post is referencing.
 
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