Nebraska Pheasant Looking Good!

By all accounts I think most hunters were pleasantly surprised at the number of birds they saw in the field this weekend.  Having crops out of the field helped a lot in many areas with the corn harvest around 75-80% and beans over 95%.  Hunter numbers were down across the state but harvests were good.  Best numbers for pheasants were in the southwest.

Bird numbers in the southeast reflected the effects of a harsh winter and hunter pressure on private land was low.  Still, many huntes were shocked to have opportunities at many birds per field, with many limiting out!  There are a lot more birds out there for the hunting and a whole season ahead of us!  My advice…try some of the excellent CRP-Hunter Access lands that allow public access to private lands.  Many of these have good bird numbers and are worth the walk.  You can pick up a Map Atlas booklet that shows locations by county at any NGPC office or permit vendor or online at www.outdoornebraska.org

Be safe! 

Know your target and what lies beyond

Wear blaze orange

Keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

Muzzle control - point that thing in a safe direction…always

Know where members of your hunting party are at all times

Get Em’ Out There

Rawly

Buster found this guy in some cattails surrounded by grassland

This brute came from a CRP-MAP Field. I really am amazed at the amount of private land access we have in NE!

Grouse Nirvana

After  a long week hosting the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Conservation Ed Training Academy I took the weekend to head out west with my father-in-law to chase grouse.  We had a blast!  I think grouse hunting is just plain awesome and truly enjoy chasing these psychotic sandhill chickens.  You will walk a ton (like I need that kind of impact to my cholesterol level) but in some of the best scenery in the state.  Grouse can pop up at any time and give you little warning but when their numbers are large it is a blast (yes pun intended). 

Grouse can be a challenge for some and generally we have luck when the weather gets a bit cold and they tend to huddle up on the protected side of hills from the wind.  On warmer days, the shady side of hills is best.  They are not like pheasant and do not care for thick cover grass but rather favor more choppy sand hills with mixed grasses that have been thinned a bit by grazing.  Give it a trip or two and you’ll get the hang of it. 

We also enjoyed a bit of waterfowl in the sandhill potholes and of course had no intention of going through an entire pheasant opener without chasing them too!  Life is good!

Get Em’ Out There

Rawly

Around the fire at grouse camp

The cranes flew overhead day and night!

Gotta love the Sanhills

Nebraska Outdoors Radio Show

We have another great show lined up for you this Thursday evening from 6-7pm on 1240 AM KFOR Lincoln.   Our guest will be Dr. Dick Winter, a sporting dog enthusiast and trainer who will cover some of the finer points in preparing your dog for the upcoming season, training, etc.  We have had fun with him before so don’t miss it!

Get Em’ Out There

Rawly

Do Deer Really Study The Moon?

Much has been said about deer movement in regards to the various phases of the moon and I will offer my limited observations on this.  Now some may say….”Jeff…how can you comment on the moon having never been to the moon before?”  These observations come from the physical phenomena of being able to look UP.  Looking up, I have been able to notice when the moon is fully visible and what my hunting conditions have been like the next day or so.  Very scientific.

Some researchers, such as Charles Alzheimer, have powerful data suggesting the full moon triggers rutting activity in deer.  From his research, some have concluded that the first full moon after the autumn equinox, the hunters moon (Oct. 23, 2010), triggers rutting activity, while the second full moon after the autumn equinox hovers around the time rutting activity peaks (Nov. 21 for 2010).  We have long known that day length is a primary trigger for changes in testosterone in deer, stimulating rutting behavior.  What we are not as clear on is how the moon may impact these changes.  One could argue it makes sense because wildlife tune into such constants that are consistent for thousands of years.  Maybe there is something to these sci-fi theories?

Before you completely discount moon phases on animal behavior, keep in mind many law enforcement and medical facilities have documented strange behavioral abnormalities during nights with full moons.  Are we influenced by the moon?  The maternity ward at some hospitals would suggest so!

My own experience has told me that on full moon nights, morning deer movement will be subdued but mid day activity will be higher.   This may be because deer take advantage of moon lit nights and feed longer, therefor are not as active in the 6am – 10am range?  It would make sense that deer who have not been active since say…4am would need to get up and move around by noon or so the next day.    Regardless, I subscribe to the theory of hunting when you can, regardless of what the lunar tables and telescopes suggest.  One constant is for sure…you can’t shoot a deer if your not out there!”  I wonder what impact Saturn has on deer?

Get Em’ Out There

Rawly

Phases of the moon - can they predict deer behavior?

Must be a full moon fight?

You Might Be a Deer Hunter….

Are you the real deal or just some TV watching couch potato deer hunting wanna-be who thinks camo is trendy? 

You know your a deer hunter if…

If you ever paid more for a rifle scope than you spouse’s wedding ring.

If you’re kneeling beside a 10 point buck…in your drivers license photo.

If your job has nothing to do with hunting but you have a picture of a deer on your business card.

If your personal license plate is BUCKGUY, DEERMAN, 10 POINT or some configuration.

If you own at least one pair of blaze orange boxers.

If you have no idea where the meat dept. of your local super market it.

If you think Fred Bear’s likeness should be carved into Mount Rushmore.

If you send your aunt Millie (who is the local president of the PETA chapter) a package of deer liver each Christmas…by third class mail.

If you wear blaze orange or camo to the office on casual Fridays.

If you leap to your feet when Bambi’s mom gets shot and yell “she had it coming!”

If your video library consists of Monster Bucks volumes I-V.

If your kids says Santa’s reindeer on up on the roof and you grab your gun or bow.

If your bumper sticker says “my kid shot a buck while your honor student was in school.”

If you think 4:30 a.m is a perfect time to get up.

If you take all your vacation and sick days during deer season.

If you send Christmas cards with pictures of deer on them to all your non-hunting friends (if you have any).

If you own eight coffee cups, six sets of cocktail glasses, a ball point pen, a pocket knife, thermometer, clock, 10 t-shirts, four pair of under shorts, 25 baseball caps, four belt buckles, a deck of playing cards, a waste basket and mouse pad all with pictures of deer on them.

Last but not least…If you name your first born “buck” even if it was a girl.

By Bruce Cochran

So the next time your confronted by that deer hunting braggart who likes to let the world know how serious he/she is about deer hunting….ask him/her if they have ever missed opening day of deer season.  When they smile with a sneer and say “well I missed the first four hours of opening day about 20 years ago due to open heart surgery”….laugh in his face as he is an imposter, a phony, a latte-sipping, volvo driving, FM radio-listening, quiche-eating civilian.  definitely not a real deer hunter like you and me.

So the next time  your confronted by that deer