NEBRASKA Turkeys

[Brightwhite]

I just got an opportunity to hunt birds in North east Nebraska and have never hunted them there. Looks like the shotgun season is 4/17-5/31 this year.

Can any of you Nebraskan's guide me as to early or later in the season?

 

[mlchase]

All of it can be good. And our springs can have snowstorms and such that throw things up in the air. But in a normal year, birds have a gobbling peek a week before the shotgun opener (makes for some fun youth hunts and bow hunts); however, they are more "henned up" in general and you are working the whole flock. If you have a spot where they are and can figure out the routine, that opener is fine. They peak again a bit later around that first week of May, and if you are more running and gunning, this is a good time to locate those toms after they leave the hens late morning and get them to come running. Later on in may they get a little less responsive, but I have had some great late may hunts. Also to think of that late in May in northeast NE, you will have tall green grass/weeds - so that can hamper visibility and als shange up which fields they are using. So all depends on if you on pressure birds or not...if not, the opener and/or second week can be great

 

[foldem_aug]

We have so many turkeys in Nebraska, it really doesn't matter when you come; as long as your not hunting public ground. It will not be hard to call one in opening weekend, its prime time, if the weather is nice and you know how to call okay. If I were hunting public ground which I tend to do a bit because I find it more rewarding and challenging; I would opt for the 2nd week of season during the week if possible.

 

[Brightwhite]

All of it can be good. And our springs can have snowstorms and such that throw things up in the air. But in a normal year, birds have a gobbling peek a week before the shotgun opener (makes for some fun youth hunts and bow hunts); however, they are more "henned up" in general and you are working the whole flock. If you have a spot where they are and can figure out the routine, that opener is fine. They peak again a bit later around that first week of May, and if you are more running and gunning, this is a good time to locate those toms after they leave the hens late morning and get them to come running. Later on in may they get a little less responsive, but I have had some great late may hunts. Also to think of that late in May in northeast NE, you will have tall green grass/weeds - so that can hamper visibility and als shange up which fields they are using. So all depends on if you on pressure birds or not...if not, the opener and/or second week can be great

We have so many turkeys in Nebraska, it really doesn't matter when you come; as long as your not hunting public ground. It will not be hard to call one in opening weekend, its prime time, if the weather is nice and you know how to call okay. If I were hunting public ground which I tend to do a bit because I find it more rewarding and challenging; I would opt for the 2nd week of season during the week if possible.

Thank gentleman!

I will be spot/stalking them, but I am pretty decent with calls. I like to sneak in then setup and call them to me, unless I can use a creek bottom or something to just sneak in and pop up and shoot.

Looks like I will just watch the weather opening weekend and if its snowing or something, shoot for a few weeks later in early May.

Much appreciated!

 

[dtrkyman]

I have hunted them all the way until the end of May. If I had to choose a time frame it would likely be between the 25th of April and the 10th of May.

Unmolested private ground it will matter less!

I have watched a tom strutting with hens and a hen with poults already the last day of season out there.

If you can leave at the last minute go when it looks like good weather for most of the time you can be there!

 

[huntineveryday]

I've always liked the last week if April through the first week in May the best, but I hunt south central and southwest Nebraska. By the second week in May the vegetation starts to get enough growth that seeing turkeys gets to be more of a problem if you're planning on spot and stalk. I've killed birds from the first of April with a bow clear through the end of May with a shotgun though, the tactics just change a little.

 

[NebraskaFlatLander]

I always have the best luck on public ground the first week or two. Thats also because I am not good at hunting turkeys and they get pressured fairly hard in my neck of the "woods" so after the first few weeks of the season they become educated and my skill level makes them lol inside I do believe.

 

[Laramie]

I have shot them from opening day through the end of the season as well. My best calling days have been early- had 11 toms come in opening morning at various times. We were filming so made the most of it before shooting a double. I have called a lot of toms in during that first week of may though. Great time for mid day sets as those toms are really moving looking for hens. Don't be afraid of the wind. I have called them in when it was really howling. They can hear further than a guy would think. Good luck!

 

[Jhill1980]

I just got an opportunity to hunt birds in North east Nebraska and have never hunted them there. Looks like the shotgun season is 4/17-5/31 this year.

Can any of you Nebraskan's guide me as to early or later in the season?

Regardless of what time frame you end up choosing? I would concentrate on weekdays if you can. You can avoid most of the weekend warriors this way.