Headed for Nebraska!

[sticknstring]

Headed down tonight for opening weekend in the turkey state. We're going to camp and hunt some public land. The forecast is pretty lousy: mid-upper 30's with 1-2" snow late tonight and chance of snow/rain Fri & Sat. We've got the heaters packed and hopefully can get on some birds. They'll be well earned, that's for sure! It'll be a preview for those of you who planned accordingly and will be hunting next week when it's in the 60's. I'll try and keep a live update in progress from my phone but not sure what kind of signal I'll have. Full report to follow. Wish us luck!

[Hoyt4]

Good luck Sticknstring

The birds were out all over the place last week and a little ahead of schedule.This weather might keep them together but you should have some good luck. Good tracking weather with the snow. Get them mr. heaters ready for the morning hunts.

I'm jealous after last weekend of scouting I wanted to be out there no matter how the weahter is next Friday will not come fast enough.

How long are you hunting for?

[pumba]

where in NE are you headded im from there could give you some info.

[Archerysniper]

Good luck Sticks hopefully you can be the first one on the board for this spring. I'm sitting down in waterloo Iowa right now on the drive down yesterday the wife was getting up set because I almost went in the ditch a few times when I saw toms strutting out in the feilds.

[sticknstring]

Thanks guys - I'm excited. It's always a good time no matter what the conditions are. It's not the first time I've hunted them buggers in the snow. It makes for some pretty cool pictures. We'll be in the northeast part of the state hunting for 2 1/2 days.

Quote:

the wife was getting up set because I almost went in the ditch a few times when I saw toms strutting out in the feilds.

My wife yells at me all the time - way too much gawking, especially with "precious cargo" in the back!

Hope to be posting some results similar to a few years back...

[mrklean]

Kansas is looking like mid 60s next weekend cant wait, whatever it takes to get me out of this state and the snow. Good luck stick

[DonBo]

Good luck Matt! A long 17 days yet for me.

[Hoyt4]

Great picture SNS

You will be looking for these

Some pics from two years ago NE

Last weekened there was not a snow bank left in the state but now might be different.

[DonBo]

Tenting in the snow does NOT look like that much fun to me.

[Hoyt4]

We got 8inches in one night. Could not even hunt that mornings the roads were so bad. Tents held up though.

SNS I know that hill in the pictures

[Wanderer]

Nice job Matt and ?

Advanced thanks for posting your report and good luck!!!

[Borch]

Good Luck!

[Powerstroke]

Good luck Matt!! I can't wait to hear how it went. I've got to wait 2 weeks to head down there.

[Gordie]

Good Luck SNS

[Shu]

Good luck!

[Shoot2Kill]

That's a sweet pic with the 4 birds! Don't see that very often.

NE turkey hunting rules.

[sticknstring]

Well I'm back. Wasn't able to do live update as we had spotty cell coverage and my finers were too numb to operate it anyhow. We had a good trip. It was cold - we never saw 35 degrees the whole weekend. Off & on snow/sleet the entire first two days. About an inch and a half when we awoke opening morning. Birds were still in big flocks but we were able to get a few smaller groups to break away and come check us out. Little gobbling and not very responsive to calls yet. A tough hunt to summarize it.

Opening morning found us on some public land where I killed my bird last year. We setup our blinds and gave it until 10:30 and never heard/saw a bird. Had some lunch and regained permission on some private I've hunted in the past. Worked a bunch of birds there but they wouldn't commit to the decoys. Moved our setups from the fields to down in the draws and found ourselves back in the blinds the next morning. Had some birds around us but nothing wanted to come check us out. Finally at 11:30 two toms appeared and slowly fed their way in to the decoys. I had my brother-in-law with me in the blind. First time turkey hunting - hasn't shot anything with his bow yet so he had first shot. I was filming the whole thing. At 22 yds, he shot and the two ran off. Thinking back, I should've been shooting and we could've doubled up. Here's his bird.

The weather turned and it started spitting snow so we called it an afternoon and went to warm up. Went and got permission at another farm that was carrying a big winter flock of birds for our last day. We stayed up a little too late and didn't get going until 9 the next morning. One guy took off and the two of us broke up camp and went to hunt our new farm. Birds were everywhere, somehow we snuck out there without bumping any birds & got the blind up. Saw around 75 birds but nothing within bowrange. We had definitely found the right spot but just ran out of time. We hunted until 3 and then made the drive home. The one opportunity was all we had - at least we made the best of it. Three days living in long johns and wool bibs will have me watching the forecast a little closer next trip! They're talking mid-50's this weekend, a few of us are throwing the idea of running down again for another quick one. Those of you going down thisweek should be hitting it rpetty good. Here's a shot back at camp.

[Hoyt4]

Very nice Tom ,that is a great bird for a first turkey.

Thanks for the report SNS.

Heading down Friday night. Looks like we will get the first day of hunting dry and then the next two days will be rain and snow mix. After by Tuesday we should be able to have some good weather for the rest of the trip. The big flocks are unreal down there.

Cannot wait till Friday going to be a long week. All packed just need to make up a few dozen taco's for the trip.

[sticknstring]

I bet you're pumped. I always get anxious to go and now I'm home and it's over already. 2 1/2 days just isn't enough time. I think next year, I'll add a full day for sure. Sounds like you're doing it right. Can't wait to hear you're report. Here's a few more pics. Only pics I got in the snow was some footage on the video camera. A shot of where his arrow sliced the blind as well. He got lucky!

[Hoyt4]

Those blinds jump out and get ya. I have a hole or two.

[DonBo]

Great first bird. 50% on archery birds ain't nothin' to be ashamed of, especially with a short stay during crappy weather. Nice pics too!

[Powerstroke]

Great job guys. I can imagine it is hard to not head back at the drop of a hat. Congratulations to you and your buddy. I know the feeling of getting someone their first bird. What an amazing feeling. Great job! He's hooked for life.

[Archerysniper]

Cograts on the hunt sticks, you used all your luck up last archery season glad to see you could spread it around.

[mrklean]

looks like a blast congrats to your bro in law on his first bird

[sticknstring]

There was 3 of us so we only went 33%. We were lucky to get the one we did get. He was pretty excited. I already have his fan drying out and gave him his bleached-out spurs back this morning. I think he's hooked, no pun intended. Still pondering the idea of heading back down this weekend... I think we all know how this one will turn out.

[Hoyt4]

Head back down Stick. Should be a little better weather.

[DonBo]

Yeah, I got a feeling Sticks will be headed back to NE soon. I know how much he hates tag soup.

[sticknstring]

The weekend plans fell apart but the 14-17th looks good! Revenge is sweet.

[delzz7]

Me and three others will be heading out there the 16-20. I can't wait!

[Hoyt4]

Heading out today. I will be letting an arrow fly tomorrow morning.