Hello/ Questions

[Vermonster]

Hello all. I figure it may be weird to see someone from California registering here, but I may have a chance to get out of this state, and end up in lovely Nebraska. So, I wanted to register, say hello, and maybe ask a question or 2.

Anyway, I could possibly have the opportunity to move to the Omaha area in the near future. I am an avid deer hunter, as well as about any type of bird. Heck, if it's good eating, I like to hunt it.. Since hunting is such a part of me, and hopefully my 2 year old son will catch the itch, I wanted to see what the hunting is like in that area.

I am wondering if there is much public land to hunt, or is alot of it private? I just don't want to have to dish out mega $$$$$ just to go hunting. Heck, even if it means not getting a deer every year, I just like being in the woods (or plains). Also, are tags and such in NE over the counter, lottery, etc., and are they dificult to get for a resident?

I really like the forum you guys/gals have here, and I appreciate any responses I can get.

Thanks,

Sean

[dupont rocks]

Almost all the land in Nebraska is in private ownership. The Game & Parks (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Homepage) probably has the exact percentage but I would guess it is in the high nineties.

Since one-third of the state's population is in the Omaha metro area the public areas in the eastern part of the state get a lot of pressure.

Most upland hunting includes ring-neck pheasant and bobwhite quail. There are sharptail grouse, praire chicken, and hungarian partridge in certain parts of the state. It is possible to upland hunt for free by asking for and getting permission from the landowner or his agent (tenant). If you scout in the summer and do something to build a rapport with the farmer you may have better luck gaining permission. Also, if you are will give up on the opening weekend or two, when everyone is out on the "old home place" and hunt into December and January you may have better luck gaining acess through "cold calling".

Nebraska is on a major waterfowl flyway, but most the prime waterfowl hunting sites are locked up in leases. Some are generations old. There is excellent public waterfowl hunting in the south-central part of the state in an area called the "basins". Expect extra heavy weekend pressure. You could have some luck chasing the birds, finding where they come down, asking for permission and sneaking. Or getting permission for the next morning and coming back to the same field the next morning way before sunrise and hoping the birds come back.

There is (generally) excellent deer hunting in Nebraska as the deer population are at or near all time highs. The key is finding a place to hunt. Start scouting early, ask a lot of landowners, and expect a lot of rejection. I have been told that it may be easier to gain permission if you are an archery hunter, (season Sept 15 through Dec 31 closed during the 10 day high power season in Nov.) or a muzzleloader (Dec 1 through Dec 31). The high power season is ten days in November. It usually ends the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

The archery and muzzleloading permits are over the counter, unlimited in number, and are good statewide. The highpower permits are zone based, limited in number by zone, and this year all but one zone were over the counter. Some zones do sellout.

If you are or want to be a meat hunter, Nebraska has a neat permit that is only valid for antlerless deer. It is called a "Seasons Choice Permit". It is good from Sept 15 through about Jan. 16. You may use a bow during the archery season, high power rifle during the high power season, a muzzleloader during the muzzleloader season, and the weapon of your choice during about two weeks in January. Most season choice permits are good for two antlerless deer.

There are many people on this site who are much more knowledgable than I. If you end up here you can probably get a lot more help from other members.

Spend some time navigating the Game and Parks site. Details and information about everything including maps are on that site.

If you are in the military...I see San Diego...I think Navy...it may help you gain access if you can work that information into your permission speech. Nebraska is definite a "Red" state and tend to be supportive of those in the service.

[Vermonster]

Originally Posted by dupont rocks

There are many people on this site who are much more knowledgable than I. If you end up here you can probably get a lot more help from other members.

Don't sell yourself short, that was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for all the info.

I am not in the militarty, but am in Federal Law Enforcement. i am not a native Californian either. As you can possibly tell by my screen name, I am from Vermont. It was always a red state too, but has changed the last few years.

I am a very "red" person myself. Own many guns, go to church, love my family and country, etc. My sister in law already lives in Omaha, and from what I hear, Nebraska sounds like a great place.

I will actually be in Omaha for 6 days the first week of October and am looking foreward to it.....

Once again, thanks for the info.

[Wildfire]

Are you a rifle, bow or muzzle loader hunter? When are you going to move into Omaha?

[thumpper]

Not to sway you form nebraska thats for sure.. But IA seems to have better public hunting spots which put nebraska to shame.. There are good public areas however I don't hit them during our rifle season for its pretty chaotic!

Laws are different in iowa too.. (pheasant hunting you can LEGALLY hunt the road ditches, which you can't in nebraska)

[Vermonster]

Originally Posted by Wildfire

Are you a rifle, bow or muzzle loader hunter? When are you going to move into Omaha?

All of the above. Whatever season gets me a tag and into the woods. Now, i'm not overly successful in any of the 3 (4 deer in my life, none with bow), but love hunting them all.

As for moving, it's only a possibility right now. I have a good job here now, but want to get out of California. Always wanted to move back to Vermont, but the wife does not want to. Omaha would be a compromise, since her sister lives there. I would still be able to live the outdoor life I like there, and it's a decen tsized city for her.

If I did pull the trigger on a move, it could be after the new year.

[Bigfowler]

I feel your pain I spent 8 years in the Navy......which translated to alot of time spent in San Diego.

Omaha would give you enough options to get some hunting done during the season....something to keep in mind in order not to pay to hunt you have to get away from both cities...Lincoln, Omaha on private land that is. There is some decent public land but like any other state you have to deal with people who are just out on the woods to kill something not hunt it. Obviously the public land around the populated cities will be choked up with more people.

I dont mean to cast a negative shadow but growing up back west in Kearney, NE and then after the Navy ending up in Lincoln, it was a little shocking when I hit the public woods for the first time to turkey hunt this spring and there was quite a few hunters in the woods. Keep in mind, I was still successful because I spent the time scouting.