Frequently Asked Questions: Part I

© 2009 J Scott Croner and
Nebraska Hunting Company Hunting Merriam's Turkey, hunting merriams turkey, nebraska turkey hunting, hunting turkey in nebraska

Frequently Asked Questions: Part I

When you are planning your first outfitted hunt you probably have, or should have some questions. We have put together the most asked questions, and several that should have been asked!

Q. What is your success rate?
A. In a word, Outstanding! In the past 5 years only 3 hunters out of a total of over 100 hunters have not harvested a turkey. All of our other hunters have harvested 2 toms and many of them in the last 2 years have harvested 3 toms during their stay with us.

Q. How many birds can I harvest?
A. Nebraska law allows hunters to hunt and harvest 3 tom turkeys in the spring. When hunting with the Nebraska Hunting Company you can harvest 2 toms. There is an additional fee for harvesting the 3rd tom.

Q. Is there a draw for permits?
A. No, permits are over the counter (internet download) and unlimited.

Q. What is included in your turkey hunt package?
A. The packages are all inclusive. (Food, Lodging, Transportation once you arrive at the lodge.)

Q. What is not included?
A. You will have to purchase your turkey permits, habitat stamp, alcohol, and tips are not included.

Q. Do you have a taxidermist?
A. If you do not have a taxidermist, we recommend that you use Wildlife Creations Taxidermy in Omaha, Nebraska. We will deliver your turkey to him so that he can mount it just the way you want.

Q. What is an appropriate tip amount?
A. 10% - 15% of hunt package based on how successful the hunt is.

Q. What airport should I fly into?
A. Your best bet is Omaha, Nebraska it has the least expensive fares.

Q. Are all of your turkeys Merriam’s?
A. The Merriam’s turkey is defined as having off white tail tips and coverlets. Over 75% of the birds we harvest fall within this color range. The occasional Eastern, Rio, or Hybrid birds that we harvest also make unique and exceptional trophies, often growing heavier with longer beards and much longer spur lengths than our Merriam’s turkeys. Take a look at our gallery to see what our trophy turkeys look like.

Q. What are the season dates?
A. Archery starts late March and runs through end of May.
A. Shotgun starts mid April and runs through end May.

Q. When is the best time to hunt?
A. We have yet to find a day of the week or weekend that is not a great one to hunt on. What do they say? A bad day of hunting is better than a good day at work! But if we had to pick, it would be the 2nd to the 5th week.

Q. Do you clean my bird?
A. If you are NOT an expert at cleaning a turkey, don’t worry, we can do it for you. If you are not getting a full mount, we will cut the tail, beard, and feet off of the tom and then breast him out and cut the legs and thighs off.

Q. What camouflage works best?
A. All camo works however a grassland pattern works best during the early season and then camo patterns with more green as we get into May.

Q. How good of a caller must I be?
A. If you want to call in your own birds, you should be at least an average caller with a few bird harvests under your belt. We don’t want you to be discouraged if you have problems calling the turkeys into gun range. You are here to have a good and successful hunt, and we want to help you make it happen.

Q. Can I do my own calling?
A. Yes you can always do your own calling. If you are going to call your own birds you will be put in a location where there are plenty of birds.

Q. What calls do you recommend?
A. Most turkey hunters know that you need diaphragm, box, glass, and slate calls. Each call makes a different sound and birds can react differently to all of them. Again, you should have some experience in calling them in.

We will continue or Frequently asked Questions on our next post!

Sincerely,
J Scott Croner
Nebraska Hunting Company