Hunting near Chadron

[mudlickman]

Based on a ton of Internet scouting, I've decided to make the trip from Cheyenne to NW NE this spring.
Any tips would be appreciated, as Ive never hunted merriams before (I'm from Indiana.) I'm hoping to get a scouting trip in within the next couple weeks.

 

[tstowater]

There should be people here who know more than I do but there is plenty of Forest Service and probably State lands to hunt. Good area for birds as I have seen quite a few when I have gone through the area. Pretty scenery on top of it, too. Just stay in Chadron if you go scouting. Might be worth getting a reservation ahead of time as it is a college town and gets busy once in a while. Also, plenty of birds on private that you might want to track down a landowner to hunt.

 

[mudlickman]

Thanks for the reply. Plan A is to knock on doors and hopefully have a couple of private spots to pick from. If that doesn't work then I'll get into the USFS land.

 

[justin davis]

I went there once and saw a lot of birds but they were all bunched up in wintering flocks on private.

I think later in the season when they dispersed a lot would go onto state land. I knocked on a few doors but it was leased by outfitters. I literally saw hundreds of birds but they were hanging out on private by cows!

 

[jwatts]

A group of us had looked into the hunting in the area. Some guys around where I live had gone before and suggested Ft Robinson State Park. There are a few different hunting areas in the park. One of the park roads also leads to a pretty good sized wilderness area. There are cabins and hotel style rooms for rent in the park for a decent price.

 

[StrutNut]

I hunted east of that area as well. Good amount of public. Merriams are fun! They are a lot more vocal than Eastern. They also have a tendency to return to their roost site which makes patterning them a lot easier. Depending on where you hunt turkey out there like to hit the open ground and stay there chasing grass hoppers and tipping cow pies. Those 1/4 size strutting tom decoys are very effective in the open ground. They also really respond well to fighting purrs. I have the best luck with coyote howlers for shock gobbling. Get away from the main roads. Seems to be a lot of road hunters in that area.

 

[mudlickman]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I'll look into that area when I scout jwatts. And thanks for the tip on the open field/ jake decoy. I was on the fence about getting one since I have a hen decoy already but I guess it wouldn't hurt to have a set. Also good to know om the coyote call. I have an owl call that has worked pretty well for me hunting in Indiana.