Ellis Scores On A Big 8 With Scott Croner And The Nebraska Hunting Company

After going Merriam's turkey hunting with Scott Croner in May and tagging out I knew I had to go on a deer hunt with him when the opportunity came up. I booked my deer hunt for muzzleloader season the second week in December. After talking to Scott several times on the phone before I arrived I was very excited about what he was telling me he had been seeing. I arrived in Nebraska City mid afternoon and was greeted by Scott. He took me to a spot on the edge of a soybean field and said he had been seeing a 140-150 class buck in the area along with some 130 class bucks. Two hours later I caught a glimpse of a big buck walking a ridge across from me. I grunted and he turned and walked right towards me. I guess buck fever set in because I made a bad shot and hit him in the gut. Scott and I blood trailed him for a little while that evening but decided to back out when we ran out of blood and lost light. The next morning I was happy to see Scott had two other people with him to help us find the deer. It took us about an hour and we found him the biggest buck I've ever taken a 144" 8-pointer. I've hunted with 6 different outfitters in my life and Scott Croner is the best I have hunted with. I already have a deer hunt booked for next deer season and plan on booking many more.

Ellis, Villa Rica, Georgia

Merriam's Turkey Hunting: 2010 Spring Turkey - Biggest Season Ever

©2010 Scott Croner and
Nebraska Hunting Company™

Get ready for the
2011 Spring Merriam's Turkey Season!

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to remind everyone about the awesome 2010 Spring Turkey season we had hunting Merriam's Turkey. This was as close to a guaranteed hunt as we can offer! We scout year-round, providing our clients with the best opportunity to bag their Merriam's Turkey!

Merriam's Turkey Hunting: 2010 Spring Turkey - Biggest Season Ever

Best to you,
Scott Croner
Nebraska Hunting Company

Nebraska Telechek Out of Service

Scott Croner and
Nebraska Hunting Company™

Nebraska Telecheck Will Be Out of Service December 18

LINCOLN, Neb. - Deer and antelope hunters will be unable to electronically check their game for a period of time on December 18, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The company that provides the Telecheck electronic checking service to Game and Parks is taking the system down for maintenance from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on that day.

"We suggest hunters wait until later in the day, like after 6 p.m., or wait until the next day to check their game," said Kit Hams, big game program manager with Game and Parks.

Best to you,
Scott Croner
Nebraska Hunting Company

Record Whitetail Harvest in Nebraska!

LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska’s November firearm deer harvest set a record this fall, rising 18 percent over last year, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The 2010 November firearm deer harvest was 63,300, compared to 53,767 in 2009. Most of the increase is from antlerless white-tailed deer harvest, as 21,000 bonus antlerless white-tailed deer tags were added this year.

Good weather benefited hunters and farmers as the corn harvest was nearly complete at the start of the November firearm season, compared to 2009 when more than half of the crop was still in the field at the start of the season.

The following are harvest figures for each region of the state, with the percentage increase from 2009:

Panhandle (District I) – 6,580, 9 percent; north-central (District II) – 11,885, 13 percent; northeast (District III) – 13,791, 32 percent; southwest (District IV) – 7,042, 20 percent; southeast (District V) – 13,709, 11 percent; and south-central (District VI) – 10,325, 13 percent.

“This is a good step toward our goal of a 25-percent reduction in the deer herd in eastern Nebraska over the next 3 years,” said Kit Hams, big game program manager for Game and Parks. “The use of Earn-a-Buck rules on Elkhorn and Wahoo permits and the October firearm antlerless season (3,000 deer harvested) in 2010 have both been successful in increasing doe harvest.”

Earn-a-Buck rules required hunters to check in an antlerless deer before or at the same time they checked a buck.

Assuming normal harvest rates during archery, muzzleloader and January antlerless seasons, hunters should harvest about 90,000 deer in Nebraska for the 2010 seasons, compared to the previous record of 80,400 in 2008 and 78,000 last year.

Nebraska has enjoyed excellent deer hunting the past three years, with record harvest numbers and record deer. A state record nontypical white-tailed deer was taken last year in Richardson County. A potential state record typical white-tailed deer was harvested this November north of Seward.

Best to you,
Scott Croner
Nebraska Hunting Company




Hunting Bastards: Osterholt Scams: Sue Kowzlowski or Mark Rommel Osterholt?Osterholt Scams: Sue Kowzlowski or Mark Rommel Osterholt?Albert A RaschIn Afghanistan™Albert A RaschScott Croner, Nebraska HuntingScott CronerScott Croner

The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: After the Shot, Tracking and Trailing

© 2010 Scott Croner and
Nebraska Hunting Company™

So you have taken your shot, waited the as long as you could, went to where your sure your Whitetail fell, and he's not there! What do you do?

Our friend and fellow sportsman, Albert A Rasch, has an instructive post on his blog The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles on tracking and trailing.

His post, The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: After the Shot, Tracking and Trailing is a great primer and sure to get you off on the right track... so to speak!

Albert has told me that he is working on an updated post on tracking animals, and is looking forward to putting the finishing touches on it and sharing it with us.

See Albert Rasch at:

Best to you,
Scott Croner
Nebraska Hunting Company


Albert A Rasch
Spoons: They're Not Just for Cereal!The Range Reviews: AGI Armorer's Course 1911 AutoBoar Hunting Calibers: Part I

Last Chance Buck: Hunting Nebraska's Whitetail Deer

© 2010 Scott Croner and
Nebraska Hunting Company™

"Sometimes, the best shot,

is the one you give someone else."

It was late in the day, and light was fading fast. The dried leaves and stalks of the worked over soybeean field rustled in the Northeasterly breeze.

I asked her to please take the shot, but being the good and ethical hunter she is, Tori would not. "I just can't get a good sight on him!"

We had been at that particular field for a short time, nestled against a tree in a low hollow that gave us Tori and I a good view of the soybean field in front of us, and some protection from the breeze.

It was late in the afternoon when the first buck appeared. A good sized spike came into view on our left, working a scrape line in a ditch bordering the soybean. As he got closer, we could see that he had all of the hallmarks of making himself a big deer. If he kept his wits about him, managed to survive the next three or four yaers, he would be a bruiser.

Suddenly, the spike was alert. His ears swiveled forward concentrating all sounds. We caefully looked in the same direction, which was somewhere between us and the spike.

"There!" I whispered.

Another big bodied whitetail buck was stepping between the laurels and brush, his nose to the ground.

The young spike stood his ground as the forkhorn, still one hundred yards away, paused at the edge of the wind blown field, the cold breeze ruffling his fur.

I debated whether we should take the fork or not. It started out into the soybean.

I carefully raised the call to my lips. The plastic was cold. A quick snort followed by a wheeze brought him to a standstill.

That's when Tori with her young sharp eyes spotted him.

Whispering excitededly she said, "Look over there! Across from us!" Yes, right there I caught some motion between two cottonwoods. Almost two hundred yards away I could make out yet another deer, this one with heavy antlers. I carefully put him in my scope, wary of all the other eyes in the field. He was bigger than I expected.

I told Tori to pick him up in her scope and get ready.

The forkhorn was now making his way towards our hidden spot, while the spike stood his ground unsure of what he should do.

It was time. I asked Tori to shoot, the light was fading, the forkhorn was intent on joining us for coffee or stepping on us, and the spike was stomping his foot.

"I can't!" She whispered, "I just can't get him in my sights. You take him!"

Again I hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Her urgent response was, "No Mr Scott, you shoot!"

The crosshairs found their mark. I gently squeezed the trigger, the recoil pulling the buck out of view. The spike and forkhorn bolted in opposite directions as the roar of the rifle echoed off the trees.

As I pulled the rifle back into place and worked the bolt, I heard Tori exclaim, "He's down! He's down!" I scanned the ground with my scope, but I didn't see anything.

I was nervous, it was a quartering away shot, one of the most difficult ones to make, especially at a distance.

"Let's wait awhile..."

So we sat there and watched the sun as it slowly hid behind the trees.

There wasn't much time left before the sun set true and well, so we left our concealed spot, and hurried to the tree I had marked him by.

As we carefully approached the spot, I kept Tori slightly behind me. I pushed a round into the chamber, my thumb on the safety.

The grayish brown coat stood in contrast to the reddish brown of the leaves on the ground. He was down.

Tori was ecstatic at recovering the deer. It was several hours later when I finally got him hung up and gutted. His estimated weight by tape, was aproximately 300 lbs! He will score right at 150, once the rack has had time to dry.

I was shooting my Browning A-bolt in 300 Winchester Magnum, with 150 grain Remington Cor Lokt.

As I mentioned earlier, I was worried about the shot, and I was right to be concerned. The bullet entered behind the ribs, slicing through the liver, and punching into the stomach. That in and of itself was not a bad thing, considering the angle. But the Core Lokt didn't hold together. Vegetable matter stopped the bullet forcing it apart.

The bullet disintergrated without exiting the stomach. If it had continued in the line it was traveling, it would have clipped the heart and damaged the lungs. A premium grade ammunition would have been preferable, something like the Swift A-Frame used in Remington's premium line.

On the positive side, we followed my instincts and waited before following up on the deer. Had we pushed him, he might have gone a couple of miles before expiring.


Best to you,
Scott Croner
Nebraska Hunting Company

Deer Exchange Helps the Less Fortunate!

© 2010 Scott Croner™ and
Nebraska Hunting Company

From the Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners:

LINCOLN, Neb. - Hunters again will be able to provide deer meat to anyone willing to accept it, thanks to a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission program.

Nebraska has an ample deer population, as well as many hunting opportunities. The Deer Exchange is designed to accommodate the additional harvest of deer. Hunters who have filled their freezers may still bag a deer and have somewhere to take the meat.

Deer Exchange participants may register by visiting OutdoorNebraska.org, and then selecting Hunting, Programs, and then the Deer Exchange Program link.

Here is how the free program, which runs through March 1, 2011, works: Donors and recipients of deer meat register, search a database for participants in their area, and then make contact by telephone to set up the transfer of deer meat. Deer meat may not be sold.

The recipient may accept field dressed deer, skinned and boned deer, or wrapped and frozen deer meat. The donor is responsible for properly field dressing and checking the deer before transfer.

Game and Parks is not responsible for the quality of the meat or failure of the donor or recipient to follow through with the transfer. The agency provides the necessary transfer cards online.

Other benefits of the program include:

-- Venison is a good source of protein in a diet.

-- The interaction increases communication between hunters and non-hunters.

-- Opportunities exist to recruit new hunters.

Contact:
Jerry Kane jerry.kane@nebraska.gov

Best to you,
Scott Croner™
Nebraska Hunting Company

Nebraska Commissioners Adopt Waterfowl Regulations

© 2010 Scott Croner™ and
Nebraska Hunting Company

From the Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners:

LINCOLN, Neb. - The Nebraska Game and Parks Board of Commissioners approved 2010 waterfowl hunting regulations Tuesday, Aug. 31 at its meeting at Lake McConaughy near Ogallala.

Waterfowl hunting begins Sept. 4 with the opening of the early teal and Canada goose seasons.

The waterfowl seasons are:

Early Teal - Low Plains, Sept. 4-19; High Plains, Sept. 4-12; bag limit, four; possession limit, eight

Early Canada Goose - Sept. 4-12; bag limit, eight; possession limit, 16

Youth Waterfowl - Sept. 25-26; bag and possession limits same as duck

Duck and Coot - Low Plains Early, Oct. 2-Dec. 12 and Dec. 18-19; Low Plains Late, Oct. 16-17 and Oct. 23-Jan. 2, 2011; High Plains, Oct. 9-Jan. 12, 2011; bag limit, conventional; possession limit, twice the daily bag

Dark Goose - East Unit, Oct. 23-Jan. 26, 2011; North Central Unit, Oct. 9-Jan. 21, 2011; Platte River Unit, Oct. 23-Jan. 16, 2011 and Jan. 22-Feb. 9, 2011; Panhandle Unit, Oct. 23-Jan. 16, 2011 and Jan. 22-Feb. 9, 2011; Niobrara Unit, Oct. 23-Feb. 4, 2011; bag limit, three; possession limit, twice the daily bag

White-fronted Goose (statewide) - Oct. 9-Dec. 17 and Feb. 5-6, 2011; bag limit, two (one on Feb. 5-6); possession limit, twice the daily bag

Light Goose - Regular Season (statewide), Oct. 9-Jan. 2, 2011 and Jan. 22-Feb. 9, 2011; bag limit, 20; possession limit, none. Conservation Action, Zone 1: Feb. 10-April 17, 2011; Zone 2: Feb. 10-April 1, 2011; Zone 3: Feb. 10-April 17, 2011; no bag or possession limits

Crow - Statewide, Oct. 1-Nov. 15 and Jan. 20-April 6, 2011; Special Public Health Hazard Order (Buffalo, Kearney, Franklin, Phelps, Harlan, Dawson, and Lincoln counties only), Nov. 16-Jan. 19, 2011

Falconry - Extended season: Low Plains, Sept. 1-30 and concurrent with teal season dates within Low Plains Early and Late zones; High Plains: Concurrent with teal season dates within the High Plains zone; Regular season - Low Plains Early, Oct. 2-Dec. 12 and Dec. 18-19; Low Plains Late, Oct. 16-17 and Oct. 23-Jan. 2, 2011; High Plains, Oct. 9-Jan. 12, 2011

In other action, the board tabled proposed amendments to fishing regulations for 2011-2012.

The board also approved changes to the Open Fields and Waters Program. Changes include a sign-on bonus, new rate for hunting access to woodland along rivers and new rates for spring turkey and ice-fishing access. The program is designed to expand hunter and angler access to private lands.

Also, the board:

-- approved some hunting, with restrictions, at Niobrara, Ponca, Indian Cave, Eugene T. Mahoney, and Platte River state parks, as well as Fort Atkinson State Historical Park.

-- approved the Aquatic Nuisance Species Management Plan. The plan's purpose is to provide the state's natural resource managers a framework for dealing with aquatic nuisance species.

-- approved wildlife regulations allowing for the year-round hunting of the Eurasian collared dove. The mourning and white-winged dove still may be hunted Sept. 1 through Oct. 30.

Best to you,
Scott Croner™
Snake Hunting!
Nebraska Hunting Company

The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: A Chronicles' Project: Sleeping Bag Care

© 2010 Scott Croner™ and
Nebraska Hunting Company

Here is a great post on sleeping bag care from the Rasch Outdoor Chronicles:
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: A Chronicles' Project: Sleeping Bag Care

Great reminder now that Fall is fast approaching!

Best to you,
Scott Croner™
Snake Hunting!
Nebraska Hunting Company

Nebraska Hunting Company, Merriam's Turkey Hunting, Snow Goose Guides , Snow Goose Chasers, Scott Croner, Nebraska Outfitters and Guides, Hunting In Nebraska,

Keep Nebraska Clean: Dispose of Litter

© 2010 Scott Croner™ and
Nebraska Hunting Company

Keep Nebraska Clean: Dispose of Litter

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission forwarded the following to me:

As fall approaches, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission reminds hunters and anglers to act responsibly and avoid littering. Disposing of litter is a way everyone may gain a sense of ownership of Nebraska's outdoors. Nebraskans can ensure future generations will have clean hunting lands, parks and waters to enjoy.

Litter is unsightly, pollutes water and landscape, and can be fatal to fish and wildlife. In addition, hunters and anglers who litter on private, walk-in-only sites risk having landowners remove their acres from access programs. The following are some suggestions from Game and Parks for keeping land and water clean:

• Leave only your footprints - Properly discard trash when camping, fishing, hunting, or hiking.
• Parks have trash containers, but the lack of a container in a more remote spot is no reason to litter - pack it out with you.
• Recycle trash - Take the aluminum cans, plastic bottles and paper home with you to recycle.
• Recycle fishing line - Bins specifically designated for these purposes are located at many eastern Nebraska lakes and sporting goods stores.
• Reuse - Do not leave spent shotgun shells behind. Consider reloading them.
• Pick it up - If you see trash, pick it up and dispose of it. Take a plastic garbage bag with you when you visit a park or lake and clean up what you can.
• Set an example - Doing any of the above items will set a good example. Maybe someone will notice and help. And don't forget to teach children why they should not litter.

Best to you,
Scott Croner™
Nebraska Hunting Company
Phone: 402 304 1192
Email: scott@nebraskahunting.net

Nebraska Super Tag Hunting Lottery Winner!

Leo Benes of Firth, Nebraska, is The winner of Nebraska's new super tag hunting lottery.

Benes won the four-species hunting permit on Thursday morning.

Benes, who is also the Battalion Chief for Lincoln Fire and Rescue says he's very excited about winning. He said he signed up for the lottery when he went to apply for a normal deer permit, but accidently applied for the Super Tag! Now that was a great mistake!

He will be allowed to hunt one Elk, one Deer, one Antelope and two Turkeys throughout the 2010 and 2011 seasons.

A total of 1,714 persons entered the lottery says the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, and the program raised $42,850 for the commission. The cost of each entry was $25.

Nebraska 2010 Deer Hunting Season

Hello my friends,

With six weeks to go, it's time to start preparing for Deer Hunting Season.

Here are the dates to remember!

2010 Deer Hunting Seasons

Archery – Sept. 15-Nov. 12 and Nov. 22-Dec. 31

Mule Deer Conservation Area – Sept. 15-Dec. 31

October Antlerless (any weapon) – Oct. 2-11
This is a new season from Oct. 2 to 11 for antlerless deer only. Hunters will be allowed to use any legal weapon and buy an unlimited number of permits for $10 each.That is a discount of $20!

November Firearm – Nov. 13-21

Earn-a-Buck November Firearm (Wahoo and Elkhorn units) – Nov. 13-23
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will require hunters in the Elkhorn and Wahoo units of eastern Nebraska to kill a doe before killing a buck.

Muzzleloader – Dec. 1-31

Season Choice (antlerless) – Sept. 15-Jan. 18, 2011 with bow; Dec. 1-31 with muzzleloader and Nov. 13-21 and Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2011 with firearm

Youth and Landowner – Sept. 15-Dec. 31 with bow; Dec. 1-31 with muzzleloader; Nov. 13-21 with firearm; and Dec. 26-Jan. 18, 2011 (antlerless only) with bow or firearm

DeSoto Muzzleloader – Oct. 16-17; Oct. 30-31; Dec. 11-12; and Jan. 8-9, 2011

Boyer Chute – Oct. 23-24; Nov. 20-21 and Dec. 18-19

And remember, nine out of every 10 permits in 2010 will include a free antlerless-only bonus tag! What a bargain!

The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: Hunting Snow Goose: Tips and Techniques

Hunting friends,

Outdoor Blogger Albert Rasch at The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles, has written a great piece on Snow Goose hunting, one of our specialties here at Nebraska Hunting Company.

The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles: Hunting Snow Goose: Tips and Techniques

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions on Snow Goose hunting!

Best to you,
Scott Croner™
Nebraska Hunting Company
Phone: 402 304 1192
Email: scott@nebraskahunting.net

Hunting Website Links - Hunting In Nebraska

www.nebraskahunting.net

www.nebraskaoutfitters.ner

www.nebraskaoutfitters.org

www.huntinginnebraska.com

www.whitetailmadness.com

www.nebraskatrophyoutfitters.com

www.merriamsturkey.com

www.topgunhuntclub.com\

www.snowgooseguides.com

www.snowgooseoutfitters.com

www.greatplainstours.com

www.greatplainsadventures.com

Turkey Hunting Seminar, and Youth Hunting Permits!

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission:

LINCOLN, Neb. – A turkey hunting seminar is scheduled for April 14 at the Lincoln Izaak Walton League, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. The 6 p.m. event is open to the first 100 registrants.

Before the seminar, participants may pattern their shotgun and tune up their turkey calls from 4:30-6 p.m. They should bring their shotgun, at least five rounds of their favorite turkey load and their favorite turkey call.

To register, contact Heather Weihe at heather.weihe@nebraska.gov.

Turkey hunting season begins March 25 for archers and youth archers. Hunters under age 16 may take advantage of the new $5 youth turkey permits when the season opens March 25, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

The season opens April 17 for shotgunners and April 10 for youth shotgunners. All spring turkey seasons close May 31.

In the past, youth hunters paid the same price as adults for a turkey permit. The new low-cost permits are designed to attract more youth to turkey hunting. The youth permits are for hunters under age 16 on the opening day of the youth archery season. All turkey hunters, except residents under age 16, require a Nebraska Habitat Stamp.

The 2010 permit prices, not including issuing fees, are: resident turkey, $23; resident youth turkey, $5; nonresident turkey, $90; and nonresident youth turkey, $5.

There is another permit change for 2010. In the past, spring hunters who wanted to hunt turkeys with a bow and shotgun had to purchase separate archery and shotguns permits. Those hunters now need just a single turkey permit, which allows taking turkeys with a bow in the archery season and a shotgun in the shotgun season.

Also new for 2010, restrictions on draw weight of archery equipment have been lifted.
A hunter still may have up to three spring turkey permits. The bag limit is one male or bearded female turkey per permit.

Permits may be purchased at Nebraska Game and Parks Commission


Just a quick note to keep you informed!

Good Hunting!
Scott

Merriam's Spring Turkey Hunting - 2010

Spring Turkey Season starts April 17, 2010