Hello from Texas/Question about non-res permits!

[cbump]

Hi, I was checking out the available non resident permits on the Nebraska Game and Parks website and saw quite a few that were for various areas for $55 any season. Just wondering why these permits are so cheap as compared to others for $178 or $400 something??? Are there other fees that apply? Anyone know which areas are pretty good for early season archery?? I am particularly interested in area 1 between hwy 47 and hwy 14 on the Buffalo River. Here in Texas, river bottoms almost always produce good deer so that is why I am interested in area 1, but am open to anywhere really.

Any onfo you may have that could be helpful for a non-resident looking to hunt public land in NE would be appreciated.

Thanks!!

[fearnofish]

Theres some good hunting along the Republican River but most is private land. If I were you I would try Halsey National Forest, both whitetails and Mulies there. Hunting pressure gets intense during rifle season , but archery decent there. Good Luck man.

[cbump]

Thanks I'll check it out. Are the $55 tags so cheap because they are doe only???

[flatcoats]

yep doe only if theyre that cheap. $170ish is for the unit buck tags and the $400ish one is the statewide buck

[cbump]

oh well 170 isn't that bad either

[JVnubs]

The $55 Nonresident permits you are talking about are called "Season Choice" permits and they are all antlerless only permits. Hope that helps and good luck.

[cbump]

Thanks!
I guess that rules out area 1. I will check out Halsey National Forest. Any other recomendations for archery season public land where I can get the 170$ tags??

[fearnofish]

You might also try up by Long Pine and around the Pine Ridge area, not sure what kind of tags you can get up there but theres some decent mulie and whitetail herds up there too.

[cbump]

are the 170$ tags for buck deer good for whitetail and muley or do y'all have seperate tags??

[fearnofish]

Believe they are both under the same tag, you will have to check on that though. I have hunted turkey in the fall in both places and have seen some decents in both Halsey and Pine Ridge.

[Royal Flush!]

You can shoot either a mullie or whitetail with those permits, I have rifle hunted the Pine Ridge area and there are some very good deer in the area with lots of Gov't land. Also some landowners in the area would surely let you bow hunt on their property if you asked. If you get stuck I can probably hook you up with the rancher that I hunted on, I'm sure he would let you if you asked. PM me if you are interested.

[flatcoats]

i guess my question to you is what calibre of deer are you looking for? if you want to see good deer numbers with a high probability of success...but unlikely on a deer over 120...i can send you to a good public spot for that. If your looking for a true trophy...you've got your work cut out for you on public coming in blind.

[cbump]

PM sent Royal Flush!

I was up near Macon hunting turkeys on the Republican in the spring. I had a buddy take me to some friend's of his land. Beautiful country up there! Way nicer than down here!

[cbump]

Originally Posted by flatcoats

i guess my question to you is what calibre of deer are you looking for? if you want to see good deer numbers with a high probability of success...but unlikely on a deer over 120...i can send you to a good public spot for that. If your looking for a true trophy...you've got your work cut out for you on public coming in blind.

I have never killed a buck with my bow, only turkey and rabbits, so ANY legal buck would be awesome! It just isn't feasible for me to take the time to come up and scout so I am not expecting to kill mossy or anything.

[fearnofish]

Originally Posted by cbump

I have never killed a buck with my bow, only turkey and rabbits, so ANY legal buck would be awesome! It just isn't feasible for me to take the time to come up and scout so I am not expecting to kill mossy or anything.

I think its possible to bow hunt in Halsey and kill a buck over 130. Been up to that country a couple times and have had encounters with bucks over 130 , and the mulies bigger than that.

[cbump]

Do you guys think I should get a climber stand or would a double bull or other pop up work pretty good?? Never hunted out of a pop so just wondering if it would stick out like a sore thumb to the deer?? Seems like it would be the easiest way though...

[parker20]

it can be vary hard to find a good tree for a climer ladder stands work well just a pain to carry in but gives you lots of options

[cougarw]

I think this applies to non residents too. When you buy a bow tag you also get a doe only tag as a bonus, 2 for 1.

[elkstalkr]

We should mention that most of the doe tags are WHITETAIL ONLY! I believe a unit or two might allow mulie does, but you would need to check the regs.

[Sandbilly]

Originally Posted by cbump

Do you guys think I should get a climber stand or would a double bull or other pop up work pretty good?? Never hunted out of a pop so just wondering if it would stick out like a sore thumb to the deer?? Seems like it would be the easiest way though...

Halsey and Pine Ridge are very good areas if you are looking for both mulies and whitetails.

If you have a week or more, a double bull will work but don't hunt out of it for the first 4 or 5 days. It takes that long for it to become part of the topography. Also try to put the blind in a place that breaks up the outline like bales, brush, tree lines, only after scouting the area.

For me the most exciting bow hunts out here are spot and stock. It takes some patience and things usually go more wrong than right, but sneaking into a bachelor group of mule deer bedded in a cut is big fun. As you belly crawl to the ridge crest (while picking cactus out of both knees), carefully using the wind to get a shot, the way you had it all pictured from a mile back, never works out as planned. It usually goes like this for me.

Mid morning watch 3 bucks work to the higher hills finding a bedding area. Pick a downwind landmark to walk from and spot. Get to the landmark only to find you can't see into the cut, then have to reposition. Spotting from new landmark, there are now 5 bucks where the 3 you watched went in. Formulate a sneak plan using the lay of the land and get to the shooter. While edging closer just below the ridge, a 6th buck now appears lower in the cut. Spent 2 hours so far on this sneak, your patience is almost gone, and there are now way too many eye balls for comfort. Proceed very slowly, peeking through the grass at the shooter. He is dozing with eyes half closed. Now is the moment. Slowly extend from belly to knees getting higher than the grass on the ridge for clear arrow flight. While hooking the release, out of the corned of your eye there is movement higher up the cut. Not taking eyes off shooter as you draw and fire, the same instant this buck, your buck's, eyes fly open and he jumps straight in the air as the arrow slices to the exact point he HAD been. The cut erupts. Rocked back on your ankles, wide eyed staring in disbelief, while watching not 6, but now 11 mule deer bucks rocket out of the cut and bounce up the hill, stopping briefly at the very top looking back, then continue po-going on for the next 40 miles, near as you can tell. The image of the shot, then all those leaving silhouetted racks infest your brain forever.

Good luck.

dc.