I'm thinking about trying a DIY shotgun spring turkey hunt in the area of Chadron, Nebraska. Any advice on where to hunt or any tips on hunting while I'm out there would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Don't go the first couple weeks of season unless you wanna risk snow to your knees.
Get good maps of the public land. There are a LOT of places where you can go in right beside a public land sign and be on private ground before you hardly get outta sight of the sign.
The Country Kitchen beside the Best Western has a good lunch and breakfast. Feik's 120 has the best steaks in town.
My DIY hunt for Merriams this year will be near Chadron. Never been there, so I can't give you any advice. Lol. But it looks like a solid area.
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Thanks Yoder 409 for the information.
Skynet KC when are you going out there?
Quote from: BigSeth on January 08, 2017, 09:41:37 AM
Skynet KC when are you going out there?
I'm not 100% sure yet. Like others have said, I've heard early season can be really rough with the weather. I'm torn between using the weekend of April 8/9 for Nebraska or for Kansas, because both seasons will be Archery only at that point.
I've been invited to go out to Kansas and get a Rio with a group of guys that same weekend. Sooo it'll probably end up being...
Nebraska - April 1/2 (DIY public)
Kansas - April 8/9 (friends farm)
Missouri - April 22/23 (my farm)
Oklahoma - April 29/30 (DIY Public)
Iowa - May 6/7 (DIY Public)
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Quote from: SKYNET KC on January 08, 2017, 11:14:32 AM
Quote from: BigSeth on January 08, 2017, 09:41:37 AM
Skynet KC when are you going out there?
I'm not 100% sure yet. Like others have said, I've heard early season can be really rough with the weather. I'm torn between using the weekend of April 8/9 for Nebraska or for Kansas, because both seasons will be Archery only at that point.
I've been invited to go out to Kansas and get a Rio with a group of guys that same weekend. Sooo it'll probably end up being...
Nebraska - April 1/2 (DIY public)
Kansas - April 8/9 (friends farm)
Missouri - April 22/23 (my farm)
Oklahoma - April 29/30 (DIY Public)
Iowa - May 6/7 (DIY Public)
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Is Nebraska open that early??? Last year I thought their opener was Mid April like the 18th or something.
Thanks everyone for the great advice. Does anyone know if any ranchers or farmers in this area lease out their land for turkey hunting for a trespass fee?
Early April may still find them bunched up and on the private ranches. I prefer mid to late season. I'd give myself at least 4 days to hunt. I've killed them on the first morning out, but just 2 days is a gamble unless you are on a private ranch that puts you right on them.
Rain means nasty roads. Don't assume that the gravel roads are passable after a heavy rain. Until you experience it for yourself, youll not appreciate how nasty it can get.
Cover lots of ground to find one that wants to play. I prefer to call to locate during the day. Hunt as much of the day as you can stand.
Quote from: hobbes on January 09, 2017, 02:01:17 PM
Early April may still find them bunched up and on the private ranches.
VERY true..........And it's really cool to see 75-100 Merriam's in a field. Just stinks when it's on the wrong side of the fence.......
Quote from: hobbes
Rain means nasty roads. Don't assume that the gravel roads are passable after a heavy rain. Until you experience it for yourself, youll not appreciate how nasty it can get.
Need this advice !! Rain or melt makes the back roads slicker than snot on a porcelain door knob !!!!
Quote from: hobbes on January 09, 2017, 02:01:17 PM
Early April may still find them bunched up and on the private ranches. I prefer mid to late season. I'd give myself at least 4 days to hunt. I've killed them on the first morning out, but just 2 days is a gamble unless you are on a private ranch that puts you right on them.
Rain means nasty roads. Don't assume that the gravel roads are passable after a heavy rain. Until you experience it for yourself, youll not appreciate how nasty it can get.
Cover lots of ground to find one that wants to play. I prefer to call to locate during the day. Hunt as much of the day as you can stand.
all good advise if your going early your really gambling no matter how many times its said its worth saying again wet road in Ks and Neb are slick and good way to get stuck even 4 wheel drive will end up in ditch and to the question about season opening its archery only that early
Probably looking at going around April 22. Thanks again everyone for all your help
just watch the weather we were out that way last year end April first May was sleet snow freezing rain the roads were impassible
Yeah I should have mentioned I was going during Archery season.
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Do a lot people use ATV'S out in this area?
I've not seen them being used by hunters but did have a group of recreational users drive by me when I was set up on a tom close to a forest road one year.
I'm not sure what the rules are.
I thought they were illegal on forest roads unless designated ATV area I haven't seen any while there. hobbes was this an ungated road or open road?
It was an open FS road. It's wide enough for a truck. Actually there are quite a few dirt roads through the NF that have barb wire gates but can be driven on with a truck as far as I know. The NF there is spit into "pastures" that are used for grazing cattle, but I've not seen them on the NF while hunting.
I'd call the NF office in Chadron and ask about travel plan.
Can you just camp anywhere in the NF? I'd rather do that then have a hotel.
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I suppose, but I'd call the FS office in Chadron to confirm. I think every trip I've made there has involved at least one day of rain. My last trip in 15 was 3 out of four days rain.
How the heck did you get around last time I was out that way the roads got so bad so fast I had to head east to fill my last tag
I hunted an area with decent access and walked a lot. I could get around on the first day of rain but after the second I was limited. I also did not kill a bird, although I still had an opportunity that I let slip by.