Kansas/Nebraska best dates?

[aeasley10]

Hey guys for those of you that hunt these states, what would be your ideal 7 day dates to hunt? 

Could hunt bow or gun, just looking to pick the most ideal dates for our trip.  Hunt will be south SW Neb & NW Kan.


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[turkeyfoot]

If your traveling far and not able to change your dates as season nears I'd for sure go mid May or later or the weather in ealry season can ruin a hunt and if you have long trip your just out luck and cash. when I say ruin I don't mean just the storms but lot of the roads will get sloppy and 4 wheel drive won't do you any good look up some the pics that was posted last year of stuck vehicles due to this and read the stories. Was out that way first of May last year rolled in after they had got around 8 inches rain many properties were inaccessible really hurt our hunt and at that time Neb was getting an ice storm wish I'd waited another week or 2 weather was ideal after that

[BowBendr]

If your traveling far and not able to change your dates as season nears I'd for sure go mid May or later or the weather in ealry season can ruin a hunt and if you have long trip your just out luck and cash. when I say ruin I don't mean just the storms but lot of the roads will get sloppy and 4 wheel drive won't do you any good look up some the pics that was posted last year of stuck vehicles due to this and read the stories. Was out that way first of May last year rolled in after they had got around 8 inches rain many properties were inaccessible really hurt our hunt and at that time Neb was getting an ice storm wish I'd waited another week or 2 weather was ideal after that

Yeah, remember it was icing as we pulled into the hotel that night. I also wish we would have went at least a week later.

[stinkpickle]

This year may be weird.  By May, it could be 95 degrees...OR they could have a snowstorm.  Plus, it can change back and forth several times within a seven day period, so I say pick which week works best for you and hit it.

[Dtrkyman]

I hunted the Nebraska Kansas border a few years...went around April 25  each year and it was amazing...off course I hunted unmolested property so time of year may not have mattered!


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[ddturkeyhunter]

I know we are talking about Nebraska, and Kansas but I hunt the SD blackHill first week of opener every year and it to can be very unpredictable also early season. Have had 2-3 feet snow over night and 80 degree days other years. But love it, same area totally different hunts. Every one whats to bring home a bird and say you tagged out. But just go when time fits best for you and enjoy the experience. And if bad weather hits hunt where every you can and you have something to build on for your future trips. Enjoy

[Ozark870Hunter]

Last year I made 2 weekend trips to Nebraska from eastern Missouri. May 14th/15th, and then went back 21/22nd. Weather was still being unpredictable but I managed to take a gobbler both weekends. 
IMO you're better to error on the side of later than earlier due to the weather.

[LaLongbeard]

I will be headed to Nebraska May 17-19 this will be my first trip there I was a little worried I may be a little late in the season sounds like it can go either way.

[turkeyfoot]

I will be headed to Nebraska May 17-19 this will be my first trip there I was a little worried I may be a little late in the season sounds like it can go either way.

I woudn't worry bit better to be able to get where you want to go than hit spring storm and be limited to land close to hard roads that has been pressured to death there will be birds

[aeasley10]

We are hunting all private land and have access to around 20,000 acres in different areas so roads aren't much of an issue in those areas. 

It's just always been my experience hunting Kansas that birds aren't as vocal or interested into May.  We both have flexible schedules so just trying to pick best odds dates for prime activity & calling.  Like in Kansas whitetail country, I'd tell people u want to be hunting somewhere around Nov 7-16


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[turkeyfoot]

Not sure why they weren't vocal into May we have heard some the best gobbling in my life in Mid May when some hens have been bred also very willing toms coming to calls and I've been hunting Neb nearly 20 years Ks about as long. From what your saying about access I'd just go when its convenient for you if you have access to that much private ground you'll be tagged out quick anyway only issue would be early they can be really flocked up still and really henned up and the weather may not be s comfortable due to spring storms good luck and have fun you should have ball

[aeasley10]

So after a recent trip, I wanted to give guys some feedback.  We were in western NE & KS April 10-18.  This is what we saw with the birds in these areas. 

April 9-14th birds were sticking together, roosting together, and spending most of the days in bigger groups and weren't very interested in calls or decoys.  Very vocal on the roost every morning and somehwhat the first hr of the day, then fairly quiet the rest of the day except an occasional locate or response gobble. 

Around the 14-15th birds birds starting splitting off from the hens after the first 2 hrs of daylight and going off on their own or in bachelor groups.  They always stayed with the hens the first hr or 2 of the day no matter what our set up/calling was like or even with no calling.  Our best luck was between 8:30-10:30am. 

Birds were much more responsive and interested in coming in the later part of the trip.  We actually used a lightweight strutter with real fan to crawl in closer 2 times on mature toms.  Both times they actually left the hens and closed 100-150 yds towards us for a shot.  If u haven't tried this, it's a blast, a hell of a tactic, & quite a rush.

Great trip....we saw tons of birds, videoed a couple mature tom fights, saw 5-6 turkey XXX shows, my buddy employed the crawl behind a stutter tactic with success and used the new (20 gauge 18.5" barrel / Sumtoy choke / Fed HW #7 ) combo out to 47 yds. 

Really happy I joined the forum, def helped make the hunt a successful trip with all the great info.  Now if I can just learn the damn mouth call! 

Good luck to everyone else the rest of the season!


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[donjuan]

I live in Northeast KS. My favorite time is around the first week of May. That's when we usually see hens start sitting and the gobblers are more willing to search out a hen. Early on, they're with hens aLot and you have to get them at fly down or it's a long day. 
Also, if it has rained, do not go down a dirt road or minimum maintenance road.

[fallhnt]

Go when you can

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[hobbes]

Speaking of the Black Hills and NW Nebraska.  They are getting snow at this very moment.  Nebraska appears to be on the lower edge of the storm, but the Black Hills are center mass.