Nebraska Game Commission voted August 31 to go to a statewide 2 bird spring limit, only one bird per calendar day, and limited out of staters to 10,000 total permits.
Fall limit is reduced to one bird.
Historically, how many out of state permits were being sold?
Quote from: deadbuck on September 01, 2022, 03:30:11 PM
Historically, how many out of state permits were being sold?
2022 = 15,435 NR permits
2021 = 18,838 NR Permits
Information found from the NE Wild Turkey Reports on their website at the following link:
https://outdoornebraska.gov/wildlifesurveys/
(https://i.imgur.com/AXG74Pq.png)
Glad they moved from their initial proposal of a 1 bird limit for NRs. By allowing 2 birds (permits) for NR, they effectively cut the total number of potential NR hunters. And ensure they will sell out of NR permits. There's a decent chance they wouldn't have sold out if they limited NR to 1 bird. Nebraska is a long way for a lot of folks to travel for 1 bird, and it would have taken 10,000 NR hunters to sell out permits with the 1 bird limit.
The data is really eye opening, NR have been killing a good many more birds in recent years than residents! Good to see another state make strides to take care of its residents.
The website said there was an amendment proposed at the meeting to go with the two bird limit, so that part was a last minute change. I agree, they would have a hard time selling out at a one bird limit. I doubt too many out of staters got three birds anyway, so I'm not sure this will change the overall OOS harvest numbers much.
WOW!!! Not to beat a dead horse but those numbers really highlight how loose lips, as well as game/state tourism + advertising departments with a view of turkeys or game as an unending resource, along with backing by large conservation organizations can crush a resource in about a minute. I hope they bounce back and get some great hatches for the next 2-3 years. A beautiful state and some great people. I also hope a lot will be learned from other states, hunters and the conservation organizations as well.
Here is a link to the 2021 Turkey Hunter Survey report. I spent nearly an hour reading the entire thing. There's a TON of comments at the end submitted by hunters.
http://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-Spring-Turkey-Hunter-Survey-Report.pdf
There are a couple open ended questions at the end.
Appendix 1. Unedited text responses from hunters who indicated that they would not hunt in
Nebraska again to the question, "Why not?"
-TONS of comments regarding how overcrowded the public lands are now and how the hunting quality and bird numbers have tanked.
-Multiple people mentioned they were after the "US Super Slam"
Appendix 2. Unedited text responses from hunters indicating "other" factors that influenced their
decision to hunt turkeys in Nebraska during the spring turkey season in 2021.
-Multiple people mentioned The Hunting Public as why they hunted Nebraska in 2021
-More comments about the "US Super Slam"
Proof is in the pudding, no matter what the YouTubers/influencers/instagrammers say. Social media has WRECKED travel turkey hunting and public land hunting. Funny thing is, I bet half of those who mentioned the "US Super Slam" didn't even know it was a thing a few years ago. Now they are about like crossfitters and vegans. Wanna know how someone is a crossfitter/vegan/US Super Slammer? They'll tell you!
As far as those producing videos pimping out public lands and PROFITTING off the sport while we continually lose opportunity...Sickening.
Now we wait and see what other state we lose opportunity in next thanks to all newly "influenced" turkey hunters.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on September 02, 2022, 02:00:01 PM
Here is a link to the 2021 Turkey Hunter Survey report. I spent nearly an hour reading the entire thing. There's a TON of comments at the end submitted by hunters.
http://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-Spring-Turkey-Hunter-Survey-Report.pdf
There are a couple open ended questions at the end.
Appendix 1. Unedited text responses from hunters who indicated that they would not hunt in
Nebraska again to the question, "Why not?"
-TONS of comments regarding how overcrowded the public lands are now and how the hunting quality and bird numbers have tanked.
-Multiple people mentioned they were after the "US Super Slam"
Appendix 2. Unedited text responses from hunters indicating "other" factors that influenced their
decision to hunt turkeys in Nebraska during the spring turkey season in 2021.
-Multiple people mentioned The Hunting Public as why they hunted Nebraska in 2021
-More comments about the "US Super Slam"
Proof is in the pudding, no matter what the YouTubers/influencers/instagrammers say. Social media has WRECKED travel turkey hunting and public land hunting. Funny thing is, I bet half of those who mentioned the "US Super Slam" didn't even know it was a thing a few years ago. Now they are about like crossfitters and vegans. Wanna know how someone is a crossfitter/vegan/US Super Slammer? They'll tell you!
As far as those producing videos pimping out public lands and PROFITTING off the sport while we continually lose opportunity...Sickening.
Now we wait and see what other state we lose opportunity in next thanks to all newly "influenced" turkey hunters.
Incredible. It is easy to see the influence being had by these comments you posted. Very compelling.
It sucks how the Super Slam is such a fad these days. I killed my first out of state turkey back in 2017 and decided that year to start the Super Slam because of a friend that was almost done with his, all before ever seeing a single tubestar promo it. Nowadays, I am almost embarrassed to tell people that it is a goal of mine because I don't want to just sound like another fanboy. Regardless, I plan to finish.
Good for Nebraska on their regulations. Love to see certain states taking care of their residents first. Travel turkey hunting is going to become increasingly difficult as these regulations will certainly continue in more states. How these influencers cannot (or choose not to) see that name dropping states is causing them to be overrun is beyond me.
Good to see, about 5 years late but oh well.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: cwedding on September 02, 2022, 02:27:43 PM
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on September 02, 2022, 02:00:01 PM
Here is a link to the 2021 Turkey Hunter Survey report. I spent nearly an hour reading the entire thing. There's a TON of comments at the end submitted by hunters.
http://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-Spring-Turkey-Hunter-Survey-Report.pdf
There are a couple open ended questions at the end.
Appendix 1. Unedited text responses from hunters who indicated that they would not hunt in
Nebraska again to the question, "Why not?"
-TONS of comments regarding how overcrowded the public lands are now and how the hunting quality and bird numbers have tanked.
-Multiple people mentioned they were after the "US Super Slam"
Appendix 2. Unedited text responses from hunters indicating "other" factors that influenced their
decision to hunt turkeys in Nebraska during the spring turkey season in 2021.
-Multiple people mentioned The Hunting Public as why they hunted Nebraska in 2021
-More comments about the "US Super Slam"
Proof is in the pudding, no matter what the YouTubers/influencers/instagrammers say. Social media has WRECKED travel turkey hunting and public land hunting. Funny thing is, I bet half of those who mentioned the "US Super Slam" didn't even know it was a thing a few years ago. Now they are about like crossfitters and vegans. Wanna know how someone is a crossfitter/vegan/US Super Slammer? They'll tell you!
As far as those producing videos pimping out public lands and PROFITTING off the sport while we continually lose opportunity...Sickening.
Now we wait and see what other state we lose opportunity in next thanks to all newly "influenced" turkey hunters.
Incredible. It is easy to see the influence being had by these comments you posted. Very compelling.
It sucks how the Super Slam is such a fad these days. I killed my first out of state turkey back in 2017 and decided that year to start the Super Slam because of a friend that was almost done with his, all before ever seeing a single tubestar promo it. Nowadays, I am almost embarrassed to tell people that it is a goal of mine because I don't want to just sound like another fanboy. Regardless, I plan to finish.
Good for Nebraska on their regulations. Love to see certain states taking care of their residents first. Travel turkey hunting is going to become increasingly difficult as these regulations will certainly continue in more states. How these influencers cannot (or choose not to) see that name dropping states is causing them to be overrun is beyond me.
You'd be a lot cooler if you didn't finish.
Quote from: cuttinAR on September 02, 2022, 06:59:00 PM
Quote from: cwedding on September 02, 2022, 02:27:43 PM
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on September 02, 2022, 02:00:01 PM
Here is a link to the 2021 Turkey Hunter Survey report. I spent nearly an hour reading the entire thing. There's a TON of comments at the end submitted by hunters.
http://outdoornebraska.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-Spring-Turkey-Hunter-Survey-Report.pdf
There are a couple open ended questions at the end.
Appendix 1. Unedited text responses from hunters who indicated that they would not hunt in
Nebraska again to the question, "Why not?"
-TONS of comments regarding how overcrowded the public lands are now and how the hunting quality and bird numbers have tanked.
-Multiple people mentioned they were after the "US Super Slam"
Appendix 2. Unedited text responses from hunters indicating "other" factors that influenced their
decision to hunt turkeys in Nebraska during the spring turkey season in 2021.
-Multiple people mentioned The Hunting Public as why they hunted Nebraska in 2021
-More comments about the "US Super Slam"
Proof is in the pudding, no matter what the YouTubers/influencers/instagrammers say. Social media has WRECKED travel turkey hunting and public land hunting. Funny thing is, I bet half of those who mentioned the "US Super Slam" didn't even know it was a thing a few years ago. Now they are about like crossfitters and vegans. Wanna know how someone is a crossfitter/vegan/US Super Slammer? They'll tell you!
As far as those producing videos pimping out public lands and PROFITTING off the sport while we continually lose opportunity...Sickening.
Now we wait and see what other state we lose opportunity in next thanks to all newly "influenced" turkey hunters.
Incredible. It is easy to see the influence being had by these comments you posted. Very compelling.
It sucks how the Super Slam is such a fad these days. I killed my first out of state turkey back in 2017 and decided that year to start the Super Slam because of a friend that was almost done with his, all before ever seeing a single tubestar promo it. Nowadays, I am almost embarrassed to tell people that it is a goal of mine because I don't want to just sound like another fanboy. Regardless, I plan to finish.
Good for Nebraska on their regulations. Love to see certain states taking care of their residents first. Travel turkey hunting is going to become increasingly difficult as these regulations will certainly continue in more states. How these influencers cannot (or choose not to) see that name dropping states is causing them to be overrun is beyond me.
You'd be a lot cooler if you didn't finish.
Luckily I don't turkey hunt to be cooler.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just looking at the numbers, that seems like pretty high success rates despite the turkey population being down. The NRs do quite a bit better than the residents also. I know the last couple times I hunted there I filled at the permits I purchased using traditional archery gear, all but one on public land and all DIY, 3 in 2015 and 2 in 2018. I wonder how NE compares to other states as far as success rate, may have to do some research.
Turkey restoration was successful because licenses were limited...when states were reopened to hunting, often it was by county, with a limit on licenses sold. As turkeys thrived, game agencies (whether they were underfunded or not) turned them into a cash cow. I am glad there are lots of people passionate about turkeys....I just wish more were as passionate for turkeys to thrive as they are to boast about slams and post content on social media. The hunters of the early to mid 1900's would gag to see how turkeys have become marketed and turned into trophies (which is what a slam is).
Quote from: GobbleGitr on September 03, 2022, 10:26:05 AM
Turkey restoration was successful because licenses were limited...when states were reopened to hunting, often it was by county, with a limit on licenses sold. As turkeys thrived, game agencies (whether they were underfunded or not) turned them into a cash cow. I am glad there are lots of people passionate about turkeys....I just wish more were as passionate for turkeys to thrive as they are to boast about slams and post content on social media. The hunters of the early to mid 1900's would gag to see how turkeys have become marketed and turned into trophies (which is what a slam is).
Are you speaking of the same guys that nearly wiped the turkey population out.
The sole reason restoration was needed??
Are you speaking of the same guys that nearly wiped the turkey population out.
The sole reason restoration was needed??
[/quote]
I wouldn't disagree with you on that, there is no doubt many at that time had no concept of conservation...just like today there are more focused on consumption than production.
I think non-residents are more successful bc they are hiring guides to put them on birds. They also are coming with the sole purpose of killing birds and getting their moneys worth. Along with killing a bird in a new state and or another bird towards their slam.
I wish they went to a system like missouri. You can only kill 1 bird the first week of the season. And then 1 more bird the rest of the season. It prevents anyone from coming in and wacking 2 birds back to back, or in the same day.
Quote from: 2flyfish4 on September 03, 2022, 04:24:20 PM
I think non-residents are more successful bc they are hiring guides to put them on birds. They also are coming with the sole purpose of killing birds and getting their moneys worth. Along with killing a bird in a new state and or another bird towards their slam.
I wish they went to a system like missouri. You can only kill 1 bird the first week of the season. And then 1 more bird the rest of the season. It prevents anyone from coming in and wacking 2 birds back to back, or in the same day.
You could do what Missouri was doing in the 90s 2 week season and only one bird each week.
Another example of how influential social media is. I'm fortunate to have experienced NE for a few years, 10+ years ago before all the madness and nonsense.
Didn't Nebraska have an advertising campaign just this past spring about the state offering some of the best turkey hunting in the country?
I am both sorry to hear (it was necessary) AND glad that states are doing something besides "Harvest Reports ( while sitting on their hands ...)????. I feel this will be necessary just to keep turkeys in reasonably huntable numbers where I'm from.... Unfortunately still no word from my state on just what's going to be done. Limiting bag limits ???? is merely the first step. Unpopular as this will sound I've seriously rethought my whole "introduce more people to (turkey) hunting"...
With YouTube and other social media , poor habitat management, predators (inc more humans) and all the crutches that come with more hunters , turkeys are finding it much more difficult to thrive. A lot of the dudes I see are happy to show up and "hunt" but forget all about turkeys once the seasons done.
KDWP public land manager said they received a ton of calls in the North Central part of the state making sure that they could shoot 2 birds. He believes it actual has concentrated the pressure on that part of the state in a big way. So I think a lot of folks are swayed by the ability to shoot 2 birds.
So yes, I'm new here. Well, I was here a long time ago..like 2009 (the old board).
Anyway, I will be hunting Nebraska this spring (hopefully I get a tag). My question (or hope I would say) is to sell single tags first round. This would entitle everyone should get a tag. Then leftovers can be for those wanting the second tag. That's my opinion.
I have no issue traveling to bag one bird. I've done it multiple times in South Dakota. Will do it in many other states as well.
I haven't seen the way Nebraska is planning on doing the draw. I looked several weeks ago and didn't see any info nor could I find when the applications would be available. If anyone has any info. Please share.
And it's good to be back.
Welcome back!
Quote from: deathfoot on December 11, 2022, 01:38:36 PM........sell single tags first round. This would entitle everyone should get a tag. Then leftovers can be for those wanting the second tag.
This would make sense in, both, preserving the resource AND putting as many guys in the woods as possible.............and as much tourism money into the Nebraska economy as possible.
I'd rather them let everyone buy their two tags as soon as they want. Less total people in the woods that way and they will still sell out.
The above trains of thought regarding the allotment of tags are all valid. It just depends on which camp you are in. The reduction of opportunity individually by limiting tag numbers per individual would result in more hunting opportunity for more people while also potentially resulting in the woods being more crowded. Every additional tag you allow one individual to have leaves somebody else that would like to go hunting without that opportunity. Bottom line is,...choose your poison.
Of course, a reasonable solution to both would be to incorporate a system similar to that which Wisconsin uses,...multiple shorter hunt periods to spread out pressure while still allowing the opportunity for multiple tags for individuals by allowing hunters to apply (in drawings) for more hunt periods. Naturally, that kind of system would not satisfy those folks at either extreme, but at least it would be a compromise towards the middle.
I've been checking the Nebraska game department website every so often to see when applications would be available for non residents. Just wanted to let everyone who is interested know that you can begin to apply for turkey permits on January 9.
It appears it's first come first serve until the 10,000 permits are sold (as mentioned it's 2 per nonresident). I'll be buying my permit on the 9th or applying, whichever the case may be. Y'all let me know if I'm not interpreting the first come first serve correctly. Also, I'll be happy to report here how the process is when I get through it if anyone would like to know.
Thanks deathfoot. I put a reminder on my cell phone.
I just wanted to add 2 things that I hadn't seen mentioned so far...
1) you cannot harvest more than 1 bird per day
2) all birds will need to be checked in via the telecheck system
http://outdoornebraska.gov/wildturkey/
I like the changes they've made. I'm interested in what the harvest data they recover via telecheck will look like. The only things they didn't touch were the spring season dates. Harvest data would be useful in either keeping them the same or pushing for a change in the future if the current changes don't have enough of an effect.
***also, one thing for any non-resident to consider is that a lot of the state has been in some pretty serious drought this year. Some areas have caught decent snow in the last week, but if you plan on hunting in areas that have been hit hard, I think you can expect lower numbers of birds next spring. Hatch was tough, and chick survival with little cover and few bugs couldn't have been too good either.
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE
Quote from: huntineveryday on January 04, 2023, 08:11:38 PM
I just wanted to add 2 things that I hadn't seen mentioned so far...
1) you cannot harvest more than 1 bird per day
2) all birds will need to be checked in via the telecheck system
http://outdoornebraska.gov/wildturkey/
I like the changes they've made. I'm interested in what the harvest data they recover via telecheck will look like. The only things they didn't touch were the spring season dates. Harvest data would be useful in either keeping them the same or pushing for a change in the future if the current changes don't have enough of an effect.
***also, one thing for any non-resident to consider is that a lot of the state has been in some pretty serious drought this year. Some areas have caught decent snow in the last week, but if you plan on hunting in areas that have been hit hard, I think you can expect lower numbers of birds next spring. Hatch was tough, and chick survival with little cover and few bugs couldn't have been too good either.
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?NE
Thank you for the info and the link. One bird is good for me, lol. Also, I just checked, the area I am planning on hunting (Northeast Nebraska near the SD border) is the extreme drought stage. Landowner states he is seeing plenty of bird tho..so we will see. But again, thank you for the info.
So I posted earlier and removed it because I didn't see that the tags actually didn't go on sale until 1 pm CST.
I just got my Nebraska Spring turkey tag. It was fairly easy (once they went on sell lol).
It is first come first serve. So any non residents wanting a tag or two, go get them! FYI, they've sold about 1,700 of them in the first 30 minutes!! :o
Yes thanks for the post, good info for the board.
I was on top of it already as I knew the changes they made. Got my tag right away also after I signed into their new purchase site. Figured I was already in their account from my previous purchases but I guess not.
I wonder how long it will be before they are sold out and even if you can look it up and see how many are left??? I don't know how many non-res tags they use to sell but I do think it was over 10,000.
Quote from: Treerooster on January 09, 2023, 02:24:24 PM
Yes thanks for the post, good info for the board.
I was on top of it already as I knew the changes they made. Got my tag right away also after I signed into their new purchase site. Figured I was already in their account from my previous purchases but I guess not.
I wonder how long it will be before they are sold out and even if you can look it up and see how many are left??? I don't know how many non-res tags they use to sell but I do think it was over 10,000.
You can go to the license page look ant the non resident spring tag and it tells you how many are left. Luckily, I created my account and bought my habitat stamp this morning thinking they weee already on sale. Lol
As of now, there are 7,900 left.
7545 remaining...
Appx 7300 left. Will be interesting to see how long they last.
Pretty crazy seeing turkey tags following a similar trajectory of western big game. But several of us started predicting this a few years back when we saw the damage of social media/YouTube.
Came on the site just to see how the board thought of the changes. Good to see it's just another reason to rag on people. I applaud Nebraska for taking the proper steps! I wish more would do the same! Now if they'd get rid of that ridiculous rule of needing a license to kill a coyote, I could help them out even more. I bought my tag last night and there were nearly 6800 tags. I just checked and there are a touch over 6300 remaining. So the first wave surely has ended but I'm sure they'll be gone by February.
I picked up 2 non-resident tags and a habitat stamp about 9pm EST yesterday. My nephew moved out to Nebraska a couple years ago. I introduced him to turkey hunting in NY when he was 13 as a youth hunter. He took his first hybrid Merriam last Spring. I look forward to going hunting with him once again. He is now 24 and all grown up. I hunted the Omaha Indian Reservation years back and got a hybrid Merriam. Im looking forward to returning to Nebraska this Spring.