Harlan county lake/Furnas county NE

[Ozark870Hunter]

On the road heading west on hwy 136, about an hr out from Harlan lake. First time hunting NE. Beautiful country. Trying to decide if I should hunt around the lake or some of the public walk-in spots further west.  Any current info on how the hunting's been?
Also looking for any tips. I'm fairly decent at chasing MO ozark ridgetop birds, but these farmland field birds are  new to me, as is hunting past 1pm.
Feel free to pm. Ty.

[BillBlanks]

How'd you make out on your trip?

[Ozark870Hunter]

Currently scouting around the lake. Been seeing some birds in fields for the last 20 miles.

[Ozark870Hunter]

Country is so wide open up here. Wanted to get a sit in but I thought it would be better to do some glassing and find some birds rather than a blind sit.
It paid off.
I've got 3 what I believe to be rio toms roosted. And now I cannot sleep lol.

[Spring Creek Calls]

I know that feeling, especially on a road trip. Let us know how you do.

[Ozark870Hunter]

Tagged my first Rio! I'll post pics and a trip report when I get time.

[hobbes]

 

[owlhoot]

Congrats
You wondering what happened to all the timber, lol

[Ozark870Hunter]

Was not a hardwood ridge top to be found. I was kinda nervous about locating gobblers. Had to forget my ears and just use my eyes.  Bino's helped.

[Ozark870Hunter]

[mountman62]

been there before, worked some birds all morning one day, loaded up with hens, never got close enough to shoot one though, I was on my way back from north central Nebraska just scouting, little different territory than I'm used to, congrats on the bird

[husker]

Congrats! 

[spaightlabs]

Congrats on a nice bird!

Just got back from a few miles west of you. Lot of encounters Thursday afternoon/evening but couldn't seal it.  Worked a boxcar load of jakes so next year should have a  lot of participants.

Roosted a bunch that night and were optimistic.  Had a huuuuuuuge bird skylighted on a small bluff right behind me Friday AM but couldn't break him down off the top which was 65 yards.  Jacked with him for 90 minutes then moved on.  Wind kicked up big so we took to the bottoms and went from 0 to 3 birds in a matter of 15 minutes on Friday mid-day.  Worked the rest of the day until dark, couldn't close the deal on our 4th bird. 

Roosted a nice tom Friday evening.  Snuck to about 50 yards of him Saturday AM and set up in a cedar break.  Birds stayed on roost for about 45 minutes after sunrise and were very quiet.  Our bird dropped off the roost, and after some tomfoolery with the  jakes and a show for the girls he came to the hen decoys and went to breakfast in the back of the truck with us.

Only saw one other group of guys while we were out there in a lot of miles and no one on the public ground...

Hope you guys finish up strong.

[fallhnt]

Congrats on a good hunt. I haven't been out there for a couple years but It's always a good hunt.