Outdoorsmen Adventures.com

It was early morning as we relaxed on the deck at Big Blue Ranch & Lodge near Burchard, NE.

We ‘d just come outside to relax and enjoy a cup of coffee when the gobbling of a turkey disturbed the morning silence.

Nothing unusual, since we’d been at the lodge for a couple of days and whenever we’d been on the deck we not only heard turkeys, but also coyotes, prairie chickens and Canada geese announcing their presence.

It was both Larry and my second hunt of the spring turkey season; Larry had tagged one bird in Northeast Iowa while I had put down two birds in Northeastern Nebraska.

We were in S.E. Nebraska as we’d been invited down to film and hunt the 2,000 acres owned by Scott and Billie Kay Bodie.

I’d met them last fall while hunting in the Nebraska Governor’s Pheasant Hunt, which was headquartered out of Beatrice, NE.

Southeastern Nebraska is a beautiful place as not only is there an abundance of game in the area; there are numerous ponds and small lakes dotting the countryside.

The property we were hunting had several lakes, one, located just below the lodge was 25 acres and was stocked with bass, crappie, bluegill and pike.

When we arrived shortly after lunch, we met with Scott who directed us into the lodge and gave us a brief description of the land we’d be hunting and the birds that called the area home met us.… Continue reading

Reprinted from the Sioux City Journal

These two jakes came running into our hen calls at the Big Blue Ranch and Lodge near

Burchard, Neb. (Journal photo by Larry Myhre)

BURCHARD, Neb. — Like so many times before, it was a gobble that first alerted us that a tom turkey was coming in.

Gary Howey motioned that the bird was downhill in front of us just in case I hadn’t heard.

I had the video camera running and began looking for the bird.

The first indication was the tip of his tail, spread in full strut, and slowly rocking back and forth as the bird stepped forward.

Then he was there, all puffed up and drumming. It was a glorious sight and one that sets a turkey hunter’s heart to pounding.

He was 15 yards out when Gary “putted” sharply on his diaphragm call to make the bird come out of strut and stick up his head.

Just like that it was over.

Less than two hours into our hunt on the Big Blue Ranch and Lodge south of Burchard, we had both filled turkey tags.

Gary, from Hartington, Neb., and I were guests of Scott Bodie and his wife Billie Kay. Their 2,000-acre working cattle ranch is the backdrop for a retreat for hunters, fishermen, horse enthusiasts, bird watchers or anyone just seeking relaxation.

Their cedar log lodge sits above a 25-acre, spring-fed pond stocked with largemouth bass, crappies, bluegills and northerns.… Continue reading

Mullen, Nebraska is best known for its Sandhills Sharptail Shootout and its unique sandhill’s golf course, is also a place where you’ll have the opportunity to view native wildlife in their natural setting.

Over the years, I’ve often heard the spring ritual of the Sharptail Grouse and the Prairie Chicken was something to see.

Luckily, we had the opportunity a week ago to spend a day filming the leks where these birds were dancing their heart out trying to impress the ladies.

It reminded me of what was going on in some of the places I used to hang out when I was younger. You

know what I’m referring to, where all the guys are dressed in their best trying their hardest to impress the ladies.

Our headquarters on this trip would be the Sandhills Motel in Mullen, the home of Mitch and Patty Glidden. Unlike other motels in smaller towns, the Glidden’s offer a lot more than just motel rooms. Besides the birding opportunities they also have offer canoe and tank rental with trips available down the Dismal and the Loup Rivers.

Since Prairie Chickens and Sharptail Grouse generally don’t dance or display on the same lek or dancing grounds, Mitch has several locations giving us the opportunity to film both species up close and personal.

In late fall/early spring Mitch makes numerous trips out into the Sandhills to locate the birds and their lek. Using binoculars and spotting scope, he pans the hillsides looking for signs that the birds are starting to use the area.… Continue reading

MULLEN, Neb. — There was no hint of a sunrise on the eastern horizon. Larry Porter, Lincoln, Neb., Gary Howey, Hartington, Neb., Mitch Glidden, owner of the Sandhills Motel in Mullen, and I boarded the yellow school bus parked at the top of a rise in the midst of a Sand Hills pasture.

In the daylight, it would be an incongruous and out-of-place sight. But now, in the dark we were thankful that the bus provided protection from a harsh and cold southwest wind.

The school bus, you see, was a blind from which we intended to watch and photograph annual prairie grouse courtship rituals.

This was a sharptail stomping ground, more properly called a “lek” by those who study such things.

On this spot, a dozen male sharptails will gather each morning from February to May. Here they will dance, pose, posture and stamp in an effort to attract a female.

As we sat there visiting, I looked out the window into the darkness and thought I could see scurrying figures in the prairie grasses.

“They’ll come in as much as an hour before sunrise,” Mitch said.

“Well, they are here now,” I answered as I could make out at least six of them running around.

As dawn arrived we could make out at least a dozen birds. Each had his own territory and as another bird would approach, their peculiar ritual would begin.

With heads held low to the ground and purple neck sacks enlarged they would run at each other and then turn at the last minute. Frequently just as you thought they were about to do battle, both would simply deflate, squat on the ground and stare at each other.… Continue reading