When to hunt Nebraska

[Texscala]

thanks guys I really appreciate the info. I will keep my schedule open for early Octoberish. I have a lot of other hunting trips in the planning stages but this one looks like it is coming together the best.

Himalayan Snow(birds...guess I can't use that word) in Elko might have to wait one more year. I will be taking several trips to Idaho and North Eastern Utah. I have recently found good numbers of Sage Grouse and Sharptails and want to knock a few of those out of the sky in late Sept.

[Reflex]

Those were some awesome pictures. Congrats on your elk too!

[Texscala]

Cow elk tags are easy to get out here. I missed an oportunity to take another one last month. Had a calf 80 yards out and could not find the cow. She found me before I found her and they both took off. Ran into tons of bulls but the cows were not pushed down because of how late the snow fall came this season.

Went out a few weeks ago guiding a friend and put him 200 yards out on a nice cow. He missed (gun was off). Heading back out on Sat to finish the job and I know he will be thanking me with a few pounds of elk steaks.

[goose abuser]

Ruffed grouse, blue grouse and now onto sagers? Thats amazing.

Beautiful photos, looks like some tough country.

I agree with mid Oct, I also I wouldnt rule out you guys shooting a few sharptails on your chicken quest. The area NW of Kearney has alot of sharpies.

[Ty Stromquist]

Originally Posted by flatcoats

if it would make youre trip to shoot a chicken and woodie id come as early as the duck season in the area youre going to hunt opens, and the chickens will already have been open for awhile.

Exactly. I thought you were more after pheasants.

[Texscala]

This year I was hoping to get a Utah sweep of all the grouse species in Utah....Ruffed, Blue, Sage, Sharptail...and the Ptarmigan (kind of a grouse). My brother got married in late Sept and that pretty much ruined my chances for them all. Sage and Sharptail are a very short season out here. I also moved right before the season started and am having to learn all new areas.

Next season I will make sure to take them all but might leave the ptarmigan alone as they are a big commitment and would rather focus on other trips. If it ends up working out I might do it again. I would love to get a ptarmigan to put on the wall but this year it was still warm and they had pin feathers everywhere.

Cool birds.

[racksniper]

If I were you I would stay home, that is awesome country. Great pics too!

[Texscala]

Country out here is awesome but bird number are real low this year and look to be low again next year. I want to visit my friend anyway and taking a few new species sounds pretty exciting.

Here are a few more pics

Find the pointer


Big male chuck


Dog in chukar habitat


Oasis in the Desert






Find the bird


Tracks




Nevada


There was a bird in there


Sunrise in the desert


Chukar sign


A friends muley (just under 200)


Mine taken in close to the same spot


Here he is in velvet a few months earlier (4 hours from my house)


That should do for now.

[tmn515]

Absolutely AMAZING pictures! Some of the most beautiful countryside as well! Thanks for posting those! Don't be shy...post more!

Troy

[jimbosan]

Breathtaking photos. Beautiful animals both domestic and wild!

[Texscala]

My little bro took his first Chukar this Sat.



Found chukars on this ridge (4 miles into the hunt)



Takes 90 minutes to hike into this spot. 3.5 miles and a 3000 foot gain of elevation. View is amazing and there are lots of birds, elk, deer, and moose in the area (also see Bighorns and Mountain goats on an occasion)



Grouse cover


Heading out. My pup and I put a lot of miles down both on our feet and on the vehicles each season.


Chukars in the cliffs


Tacks and scratches in the snow


Arrow (my pup) on point again


grouse....its whats for dinner


My first pintail


Double (Dog is 6 months old at this point)


Lots of country


The girls. One of the great things about my pup is how calm she is in the house. Great with my wife and daughter. Big runner in the field.


Grouse country


Fast little dog




Muddy


First day in Utah

Some fish

25 inch Cutthroat


Nice channel

[vrentropy]

Having worked at Bear Lake for two summers back before I got hitched up, you are REALLY making me homesick!!!

(My Grandparents are in Woodruff, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. . . . )

[jimbosan]

Judging by that terrain, you had better be in better shape than your average hunter! Again beautiful pics!

[Texscala]

I average about 11 miles a hunt and usually hunt for half a day. Now that the snow is flying hunts are not as long mileage wise but they are more demanding.

I have had a tracker on my dog on one outing and she put down 20 miles in 5 hours in grouse country she works close in that stuff rarely getting out past 100 yards. This time of year in chukar and Hun country She is rarely closer than 200 and often out at 400 plus searching the next hillside.

Also my shins are a mess always covered in cuts and bruises this time of year. It takes a season to get used to it but eventually you learn to love the pain.

[buglem]

Those are some cool pictures! Very nice!

As far as when to come for the species you mentioned, IMHO it would be late October or early November. The later you get in the year, the harder the prairie chickens are to get close to and the more likely the woodies have left the area.

[jimbosan]

Originally Posted by buglem

Those are some cool pictures! Very nice!

As far as when to come for the species you mentioned, IMHO it would be late October or early November. The later you get in the year, the harder the prairie chickens are to get close to and the more likely the woodies have left the area.

Roosters are easier to come by also!