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Boom! The gaudy rooster cartwheeled down, sinking a few inches into a snowdrift. My wirehair brought back some of that snow in his beard along with the ringneck, and I breathed deeply, savoring the winter day. Temperatures, while cold, were a bit warmer than in the more northern parts of the region, and while there was some snow on the ground, there was less than could be found in those areas. I had good odds of finding another pheasant. Or a bobwhite. Or possibly even a sharptail.
That’s winter hunting in Nebraska for you. While it may not hold the same ringneck numbers as some of the surrounding states, Nebraska does offer solid variety and—in many cases—better weather and fewer late-season hunters.
Winter hunting can be a crapshoot anywhere any year, but if you’re jonesing for an upland fix in the Midwest, your odds for fair late-season weather are often better in states lying farther to the south, including Nebraska. Available weather data confirms this. On average, the birdiest parts of South Dakota see about 28 days of snowfall in December that drop some 40 inches, with an average high temperature of 29 degrees. Meanwhile, Nebraska’s uplands see 21 days of snow and 25 percent less white stuff on the ground, with average high temps near 40 degrees. Obviously, it’s still cold in Nebraska, and there’s still snow, but temperatures will generally be warmer than in the Dakotas, and there will generally be less snow. Late-season birds are typically bunched up in the hardiest cover. So, if you know what to look for, you’ll save time and effort finding them.
Bundle up, top off your radiator with antifreeze, and explore some of the Cornhusker State’s birdiest spots for pheasants, quail and sharp-tailed grouse.
Like its neighbors to the north, Nebraska has a well-honed public-access system that opens tons of private property to hunters. It also has loads of publicly owned land, vast swaths of national forest, wildlife management areas and other federal and state lands. Accessing the Nebraska Public Access Atlas online is likely your best bet for plotting out which properties to hit on your late-season sojourn.
Some of my best hunting has occurred when focusing on lesser-known, underappreciated chunks of ground. Some U.S. Army Corps of Engineers properties fit this description. Smaller pockets of walk-in ground (known as Open Fields and Waters) and Waterfowl Production Areas (yes, for upland birds) all see less pressure, especially in winter.
Nebraska also offers a unique program that could pay off in winter: a “tall stubble” incentive to farmers to create welcoming winter habitat by mowing a little higher. This leads to more feed, more cover and more birds. Check out the online Stubble Access Guide at the Nebraska Game & Parks website any time after it goes live in the fall. Review the different assets regarding Nebraska’s public hunting opportunities ahead of time, plot out your itinerary, and you should be in good shape for your hunt.
The most sought-after upland bird in the state, ringnecks are found statewide, though your odds are best in the southern Panhandle and southwest Nebraska. There are plenty of harvested cornfields, sometimes bordered by public-access ground. One time, when I was headed for Kansas, I stopped outside of a one-horse town’s Little League field to stretch my dog’s legs on a little strip of grassy CRP. The point my dog gave me was one of wide-eyed surprise, but the rooster that was hunkering under the wire fence didn’t share the wonder. Instead, he rocketed for a nearby private cornfield while we scratched our collective heads. On the way back, we poked around the region a bit more with some success.
You can do worse than basing a winter Nebraska pheasant hunt in one of the small towns along Interstate 80 in the southwestern part of the state. Sidney, once home to Cabela’s, still has a store, RV park and all the services you need. Draw a 50-mile circle around it and mark the walk-in ground.
On one visit, with a skiff of snow on the ground, I drove south on an old farm road that had telephone poles along its edge. I turned around at the Colorado line and found a fallow, terraced field of tall grass. My young dog romped from ditch to knob, showing me a flash point that lasted only the mere seconds it took the bird to flush, a cloud of powdery snow in its wake. For once, the element of surprise worked in my favor, and I dropped the bird with an instinctive shot that rewarded my pup with a (sorta) retrieve.
Head west into the Panhandle for more and larger public parcels around Kimball, and farther north into Banner and Scott’s Bluff counties. Farther east, any exit off I-80 all the way to Kearney will put you close to public access and a few bits of tall-stubble acreage. Good bird numbers are also found in Chase, Hayes, Hitchcock and Perkins counties in southwestern Nebraska and in Cheyenne, Deuel, Box Butte and Sheridan counties in the Panhandle.
While Nebraska’s winter may be slightly milder than South Dakota’s, pheasants still need robust cover during the dark, cold nights and blustery days. Shelterbelts, overgrown ditches and even a few cattail patches will hold birds. If they’re near good feed, all the better.
Besides ample access, another pleasant surprise about this country is the number of brushy fence lines and ditches. Sure, they’ll hold skunks as well as ringnecks, but that’s hunting, right? Late in the season, critters will outnumber humans, and that makes the risk worthwhile. (By the way, my de-skunking product of choice is Nature’s Miracle.)
While not a high-profile quail state, Nebraska is at least closer than Georgia. If you’ve led a righteous life, still call your mother on her birthday and walk far enough, you might get a shot or 10.
Your best chance for success will come in southeastern Nebraska and westward along the Kansas border. Fillmore, Richardson and Lancaster counties offer ample public access, but they’re smaller parcels. In late season, it’s all about favorable cover, so scout well. If you’re farther west in the Platte River Valley, you could have some luck.
Once, I was chasing pheasants in one of the ringnecky pockets of Jefferson County, when my wirehair swung out of the stubble and into a depression populated by a few trees and spindly patches of grass. At a fallen log, the dog froze and I picked up my pace and was rewarded with a pair of bobwhites that squirted from one end of the downed tree. They went deeper into the trees until both were stopped by my one decent shot of the day.
As the season progresses, woody cover and high-energy food become increasingly important to bobwhites. Stands of trees are worth exploring, as are any plum thickets you might see.
Some may call you crazy for chasing sharp-tailed grouse any time after pheasant season opens, let alone near the bitter end of bird season. Birds are wary and often forming large family groups, which equates to a lot of eyes on the lookout for predators, including you. A pointing dog will have a hard time getting close enough to pin them, so consider bringing out the Labrador or spaniel and keeping it close.
As the wind kicks up, birds will migrate to the leeward side of their favored knobs on the landscape. Bitter cold will also put them in heavy brushy cover. A shelterbelt-like stand of trees or shrubs will find favor with sharpies. On a nice day, they’ll prowl their usual haunt: knee-high grass.
Sometimes, sharp-tailed grouse will become so wary that it’s virtually impossible to approach them within shotgun distance. Under these conditions, try hunting them as early in the morning as possible, as they seem to be a bit more relaxed then.
You can’t talk sharpies without acknowledging the Sandhills region. The area’s bird population is often the strongest in the state, but there’s very little to block the relentless winter wind save for the occasional rusted windmill. Good starting points include the towns of Mullen and Valentine, where you can easily access the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, as well as the Samuel R. McKelvie and Nebraska National Forests (well, there are a few trees there).
I once slipped my way up and down dunes covered in grass covered in snow, my pointer boosting sharptails on the horizon. I made a resolution to get a cocker some day, then topped a rise to see him on point alongside a frozen pond. That’s when I learned sharptails will “snow roost” like a ruffie. Chalk up that lesson as the excuse for missing. There’s no doubt that winter and its associated temperatures and conditions can be daunting for hunters, even in Nebraska. However, if you’re a diehard upland hunter seeking solid late-season action, don’t overlook the Cornhusker State. While still cold—and potentially snow covered—it may be an attractive option compared to colder, snowier, windier states to the north. Pack your warm socks.
Key considerations when planning a late-season Nebraska upland hunt
With any late-season bird hunt, there are always some extra things to consider. First off, focus on safety—both yours and your dog’s. Be mindful of hypothermia symptoms in canines, put a vest on your dog and check paws frequently for ice cuts. Roads can often be treacherous, with drifting snow and muddy conditions if the sun comes out, so take extra care when driving. And, when in the field, wear clothes, socks and footwear that adequately protect you from the cold.
When planning a hunt, obtain all possible information online or via hard copy and consult the state’s Upland Game Bird Hunting Outlook for advice on areas of the state with the best hunting opportunities for your desired species. You’ll need a hunting license and a habitat stamp (a two-day non-resident license costs about $76, plus $25 for the stamp). Those hunting prairie grouse east of Highway 81 are also required to obtain a special free grouse permit.
On the gear front, use a tighter modified choke in your shotgun to accommodate the longer shots you’ll encounter late in the season. Number 4 or 5 shot is a good idea for winter hunts. All upland bird seasons run to the end of January—if you’re up for the challenge.
Jeff Knapp
Tony Martins
Jace Bauserman
Adam Heggenstaller
Frank Sargeant
Game & Fish Staff
Jace Bauserman
Drew Warden
Tony Martins
Lynn Burkhead
Jim Gronaw
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