I'm headed to western Nebraska for a week or two of deer hunting and I'm looking for some advice. This trip is pretty laid back but with mule deer and whitetail archery tags I'm just heading out there to look around and see what I can find without a lot of pressure to kill a big buck. I have a place in Lewellen I can plug in my camper for a few days, but if I don't find much around there I may move north or west.

I hunted the west end of Lake Maconaughy a few years ago but I heard most of what I hunted then is under water now. So I'm starting over. Also what do you know about antelope hunting in November, I guess you can buy tags over the counter from what I hear.

Anyone from out that way care to share some info, just PM me or whatever, maybe we can have a phone conversation. Planning to head out about November 1. Appreciate any quality input I can get.

Bump...

Prayers sent

have ya though bout asking here Bernie?...…… https://www.huntingne.com/forum/index.php
or here?...…. https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/threads.cfm?state=Ne

Lol 😂

LOL that's funny. pray for a 10-pointer while you're at it.

I hunted the valentine area years ago. we stayed at merritt reservoir.

1. Cheap, unlimited, over the counter tags
2. 97% private land
3. Nebraskans with other options don't even wast their time hunting in Nebraska any more. Its an epic (This word is unacceptable on Trapperman) show.



The forums are rife with queries like yours, but success threads are scarce as hens teeth. Why?..........See above.


You will see more Colorado plates than Nebraska plates.



There are more hunters than deer, or places to hunt.

Deer season opens sept 1, so does turkey, grouse, and dove. Not to mention all the varmint callers trying shoot pups for epic photos on social media. The net net of all this is that deer are bounced to the bordering private lands way before the rut gets going.




Now, if you have access to private land, It could be a solid adventure.



Here's a thread from bowsite that's almost 10 yrs old and the guys are discussing the tsunami of hunters overwhelming the places to hunt.

https://forums.bowsite.com/tf/regional/thread.cfm?threadid=187641&state=NE

PM me. I talk to Mel the biologists at Valentine wildlife refuge and I have the game wardens number for the area. He’s a nice guy. I can give you there numbers. Both are very helpful

Thanks for the input and the PMs. I wasn't really considering the Valentine area but I wouldn't rule it out. Right now since I have a place to plug my trailer in for a few days at Lewellen that's where I'll start then if that's not going well, I'll work my way either to the Scottsbluff area or head up to Chadron/Crawford area. I like that part of the country and I've hunted many states and terrains but this looks like an interesting challenge. Keep the advice coming, thanks!

Prayers sent.

Off topic but does anyone know if the Grace Ranch is still in operation in that area?

Osky

I would suggest finding the biggest piece of public land with limited access and get as far into it as possible. Most of the hunters I see on public ground don’t get more than half mile from the vehicle. Going farther increases your odds of success by as much as it increases the difficulty of removing the animal.