Nebraska Pheasants

[Sumander]

Northern Minnesota bird hunter here. I am looking into a pheasant hunt in January, possibly around the Norfolk area. Just wondering what the bird count is like and what the availability of public hunting land is in that area?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[prov1900]

I understand the numbers are pretty decent, compared to years past. The Norfolk area has a number of public access lands in the area. Look north to the Wayne area and points north for even better hunting. Do you have a contact in Norfolk? If so, they will know what I am talking about.

Also check the Nebraska Game and Parks HSOforum (ngpc.state.ne.usdotcom). They have interactive maps of public land and will give you a birds eye view of what you will be hunting. Let me know if you have any other questions. I haven't pheasant hunted in years, but have hunted the Norfolk area extensively for a number of years (ago). Let me know if you need any lodging/entertainment questions.

[MN_Husker]

I grew up in the Norfolk area and hunt the opener there every year. This year bird numbers were supposedly good but there was so much crop in it was a very difficult hunt. I would guess that 25% or more of the corn is yet to be harvested. I would try the public hunting areas in Cedar, Stanton, or Dixon Counties. The NGPC has maps for the public areas. Good Luck

[Sumander]

Thanks ProV1900 & MN_Husker. I have no particular affinity to the Norfolk area other than the fact it is about the same distance I have to travel to where I hunt in North Dakota. I also looked at the Nebraska Game and Parks site and it sounded like the bird numbers would be decent in the area.

Hunt would involve two guys and one dog. Would we be able to find areas small enough for us to manage, or is it all big country? Can we find dog friendly lodging in Wayne? Would we run in to alot of hunting pressure that time of year? Thanks for your help guys.

[prov1900]

There is very dog friendly lodging in Wayne. Contact the Sportsman's Inn. Most of the land in the area is quite manageable. CRP is gone for the most part, so it isn't like the good old days when I was a Wayne Stater. Wayne has good steakhouses.

We used to hunt the tracks near Dixon, NE, which is north and east of Wayne. This area was always very manageble with two or three guys. By now, the crops are mostly out, so that should leave you with some pretty good odds for success.

[Sumander]

Thanks ProV1900, I have requested some information from the Game and Parks department. I am feeling more positive about trying to give it a shot. I have one more trip to NoDak planned mid December. Will watch the weather and see if we can't pull it off. I have a 21 month old pup that is having a great season. I want to keep her on birds as long as possible.

[prov1900]

Wayne is a great destination for roonies. Bo Jackson has even made the trip on a couple of occasions.

[Sumander]

ProV1900, I like your style, if that is a pic of your boat in your avatar. I have an 1800 Fisherman that's the same color. Fish the Ontario side of Lake of the Woods during open water season.

[prov1900]

It is. My profile names aren't real creative

That pic was taken up on Minnitaki near Sioux Lookout. Got to love red!!

[Sumander]

How bad did the snow storm wack the NE corner of the state? Tough to tell from the weather maps, but it looks like it fared better than points to the south.

[prov1900]

We got about 9.5" here. I think the Wayne area may have gotten a little more. The areas around Dixon/Concord that I referred to earlier seemed to always improve with these storms. It seemed to narrow down their resting/nesting areas. Just bring some 2 shot with you and you will be fine

[CRAZYEYES]

How is hunting in Nebraska late season. A buddy and I were thinking of coming out sometime in January. I cant imagine its a busy time of year for pheasant hunting.

[prov1900]

You will have it to yourself for the most part. I always thought the late season was better due to the crops being out (which were very, very late this year) and the available cover being concentrated because of the snow, therefore concentrating the birds.

Bring some 2 shot because you will have some long range birds, obviously an issue anywhere in the late season. Everyone says the numbers are high this year, so I think you should do fine. Look to the Wayne, Dixon, and Dakota County areas. Stanton and Madison are also good considerations.

[CRAZYEYES]

Sounds like fun. I kind of figured that not to many people would be out there this time of year. Pheasantt season closes in mn after new years and I really dont want that to be it. I wish that nebraska still had the 2 day non resident deal after dec 31 but their licences still seem pretty reasonable vs some other states and I have heard nebraska is a pretty underated pheasant destination. As for late season birds I am pretty acustom to the skitish birds but my friend that I would be coming with get pretty crafty attacking those kind of birds. Thanks prov!

[prov1900]

Anytime. Make sure you report your successes!!

[Sumander]

ProV1900 or any other Husker out there, Did the most recent storm dump a bunch of snow on NE Nebraska? Still toying with the idea of a late January hunt to that area. It appears from the snow cover maps that there may be 20+ inches of snow on the ground in the Wayne area.

[prov1900]

That is affirmative. 20+ on top of the previous blizzard and lots of wind to fluff it up. As far as what it has done to the existing cover, I'm not sure, but would guess it hasn't done it any favors. Wait a couple weeks and those drifts will have moved 10 times and 10 miles

[Sumander]

Thanks for the update. I will check it out in a couple of weeks. Doesn't look like the forecast show much melting down that way for a while either.

[prov1900]

Doesn't look like it. Thank God, though. If we had an even average melt right now, we would all be in trouble, flood wise. If I hear of any news on the birds, I will keep you posted.

[walleye4]

I seen about 100 rooty birds today while running my delivery route from Minden to Hastings.

[Sumander]

Thanks Walleye4, That area was a little farther away than I was planning to travel. Is there as much snow in that area as in the North East part of the state?