Kjones19
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- Feb 27, 2019
- Messages
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I'm looking for good public land for the Merriam turkey this up coming spring any info would be very helpful thanks
Public land recomendations for spring turkey hunt
- Thread starter Kjones19
- Start date
CampRipleyLF
Active member
Both South Dakota and Nebraska are great options. You can shoot up to 3 birds in Nebraska and if you are an archery hunter, your season begins in late March.
Kjones19
New member
- Joined
- Feb 27, 2019
- Messages
- 2
What parts of nebraska
PrairieHunter
Well-known member
SOUTH DAKOTA
Subspecies: Primarily Easterns east of the Missouri River and primarily Merriam’s west of the river
Estimated population: Not available
Spring 2018 harvest: 5,197
Overall outlook: “Winter so far in 2019 has been relatively mild, and reproduction from last year was decent,” says Chad P. Lehman, senior wildlife biologist with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
Potential 2019 hotspots: The southern portion of the Black Hills has been especially good in recent years.
Quick tip: “We had a big policy change—no rifles will be allowed for spring hunting statewide,” Lehman says. “Hunting early in the season can lead to hunting larger wintering flocks with difficult calling conditions. Hunting later — say early May — will allow for better calling conditions and dispersed turkey populations.”
Season dates/bag limits: Archery: April 6 through May 31. Shotgun: April 13 through May 31. Limit: Black Hills: one. Prairie units: one per permit (see the application for unit-level license availability).
NEBRASKA
Subspecies: Mostly hybrids (Merriam’s/game-farm turkeys), but biologists suspect there are some pure Merriam’s in the extreme northwestern corner of the Panhandle.
Estimated population: No estimate
Spring 2018 harvest: 17,731
Overall outlook: “2018 habitat conditions were good across the state and should have led to good poult survival and good overwinter conditioning,” says Luke Meduna, big-game program manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Residual cover should lead to good nesting conditions in 2019. Overall bird numbers should be holding steady from the past couple of years.”
Potential 2019 hotspots: Meduna said the Loess Hills, Loess Canyons, Pine Ridge, Niobrara River Valley and Platte River corridor should continue to be strong areas for turkeys.
Quick tip: You can find survey results at Outdoornebraska.org.
Season dates/bag limits: Archery: March 25 through May 31. Youth shotgun: April 6 through May 31. Shotgun: April 13 through May 31. Each permit is valid for one male or bearded female turkey, and a hunter can have up to three permits.
Subspecies: Primarily Easterns east of the Missouri River and primarily Merriam’s west of the river
Estimated population: Not available
Spring 2018 harvest: 5,197
Overall outlook: “Winter so far in 2019 has been relatively mild, and reproduction from last year was decent,” says Chad P. Lehman, senior wildlife biologist with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks.
Potential 2019 hotspots: The southern portion of the Black Hills has been especially good in recent years.
Quick tip: “We had a big policy change—no rifles will be allowed for spring hunting statewide,” Lehman says. “Hunting early in the season can lead to hunting larger wintering flocks with difficult calling conditions. Hunting later — say early May — will allow for better calling conditions and dispersed turkey populations.”
Season dates/bag limits: Archery: April 6 through May 31. Shotgun: April 13 through May 31. Limit: Black Hills: one. Prairie units: one per permit (see the application for unit-level license availability).
NEBRASKA
Subspecies: Mostly hybrids (Merriam’s/game-farm turkeys), but biologists suspect there are some pure Merriam’s in the extreme northwestern corner of the Panhandle.
Estimated population: No estimate
Spring 2018 harvest: 17,731
Overall outlook: “2018 habitat conditions were good across the state and should have led to good poult survival and good overwinter conditioning,” says Luke Meduna, big-game program manager at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. “Residual cover should lead to good nesting conditions in 2019. Overall bird numbers should be holding steady from the past couple of years.”
Potential 2019 hotspots: Meduna said the Loess Hills, Loess Canyons, Pine Ridge, Niobrara River Valley and Platte River corridor should continue to be strong areas for turkeys.
Quick tip: You can find survey results at Outdoornebraska.org.
Season dates/bag limits: Archery: March 25 through May 31. Youth shotgun: April 6 through May 31. Shotgun: April 13 through May 31. Each permit is valid for one male or bearded female turkey, and a hunter can have up to three permits.
