Merriams date help

[Johndoe]

Trying to plan a trip to Neb for this spring. What is the best time to go. Early or late.

[ICDEDTURKES]

I have gone out west for about 10-12 or so years now.. Usually the first week in April and lately second week.. In SD sometimes the birds are still in winter flocks.. You still have good hunts but alot of times its gorilla warfare.. If it were me and I was not worried about being home and only about hitting birds out there right.. I would go the first week of May..

One weird thing I have noticed, I have hunted merriams in the Black Hills of SD and WY 5 times and those birds seem to be ready regardless, earlier.. I would have thunk the opposite..

[hobbes]

I've done well up to the end of May in NW Nebraska. I think you'll hear more gobbling early to mid May as suggested. April, even early May, could result in snow. They are still killable but wet and cold isn't fun.

[DC1.]

1st week of May.

[TRKYHTR]

I agree the first week of may.

Joe

[hawglips]

I have been out there twice, during the last 10 days of May. Did fine. I'm going to try the first week of May next spring and I'll be able to give an opinion after that. I am only going in early May because of a scheduling necessity. I typically don't want to go till hunting back home is closed down.

[Johndoe]

What's the weather gonna be like?

[ICDEDTURKES]

What's the weather gonna be like?

The upper midwest is extremely unpredictable.. You may save yourself from snow or cold going the first week of May.. I would prepare for cool mornings 30-40 and than daytime highs even up into the 90s.. Wind, if you have never been out west, you do not know what wind is.. 15 MPH is calm.. There simply is nothing to stop it..

[timbrhuntr]

I am going to South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana for the opening week in April. The lady who owns the land said that the hunt is usually better early but the weather is very unpredictable and could have snow. However I figure can't do much about the weather I have gone to Texas when it was in the 20's and even had snow in Kansas when I went. Of course being from Canada the cold weather doesn't really bother me but you southern guys might wanna bring some extra woollies even if its in May and warmer

[ICDEDTURKES]

I am going to South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana for the opening week in April. The lady who owns the land said that the hunt is usually better early but the weather is very unpredictable and could have snow. However I figure can't do much about the weather I have gone to Texas when it was in the 20's and even had snow in Kansas when I went. Of course being from Canada the cold weather doesn't really bother me but you southern guys might wanna bring some extra woollies even if its in May and warmer

My favorite places to hunt with WY topping.. But WY is not what it was 6-7 years ago.. But You will have gobbling birds in that time frame.. Having hunted merriams in about every conceivable condition I gotta say they are weird when it comes to weather, different than easterns..

Say you start the day with nice high pressure, the weather warms the birds will go from a huge flock, break up in small breeding groups and go about there business.. Next day a snowflake flies, they all go running back together.. I have seen it alot of times. I can tell you one thing for sure, if you are in birds, get inclement weather and it clears and the sun pops, they go nutz..

[Gobbler]

You southern Crackers quit worrying and book your hunt. They got Walmarts out there you can buy mittens and ear muffs at.

[Grumpy]

and frozen Butterball turkeys

[Johndoe]

You southern Crackers quit worrying and book your hunt. They got Walmarts out there you can buy mittens and ear muffs at.

Not worried "Bitch" just want all the info I can get.
Oh crap. Did I say that out loud. I apologize. Lol
I got cold clothes. Gotta make sure I pack em all.

[Gobbler]

You southern Crackers quit worrying and book your hunt. They got Walmarts out there you can buy mittens and ear muffs at.

Not worried "Bitch" just want all the info I can get.
Oh crap. Did I say that out loud. I apologize. Lol
I got cold clothes. Gotta make sure I pack em all.

Ouch! I would go the 1st week in May cause that's when I'm going.

[Johndoe]

You southern Crackers quit worrying and book your hunt. They got Walmarts out there you can buy mittens and ear muffs at.

Not worried "Bitch" just want all the info I can get.
Oh crap. Did I say that out loud. I apologize. Lol
I got cold clothes. Gotta make sure I pack em all.

Ouch! I would go the 1st week in May cause that's when I'm going.

Sounds good Doug. We can race up and back.

[ICDEDTURKES]

This is what you get when you go early.. One spot I hunt in SD is about 3 miles down river.. I road a mule down there and it was decent.. This spot has very few turkeys but I love the terrain so I go there.. A big front hit, Sal, called and of course she was tagged out and said get your azz back its getting nasty.. I was freezing my azz off but would have toughed it out.. The 3 mile mule ride back was the worst thing I have ever experienced.. I had to stop the mule every 1/2 mile or so as I was traveling north and had a 30 mph N wind with sleet, freezing rain and snow in my face.. I literally had to pry my eye lids open as they were frozen shut.. Wind burnt as hell.. Sal could not quit laughing when I got back, said "we need to get a pic before you thaw out"...

[Johndoe]

I always new Sal was a great sport. That pic proves it.

[Gobbler]

I'm not hunting in the snow. I'll drive to the Indian casino before I sit in snow to hunt turkeys. Although Ice fishing was my favorite winter sport when I lived in Michigan.

Here is advise John. Get up early and go kill your Merriam. Now don't kill your other two tags that day. Even though it is tempting. Tag and clean the bird get it back to your room and carve it up into friable strips of meat. Get cold beer and other food ready for early afternoon dinner. Go and sight see or scout. Maybe help others in party kill their bird. That afternoon everyone go back to room and have a turkey fry and a cold one. Sit around and enjoy being out there. Talk about the days hunt and plan tomorrows hunt. OTHERWISE you will end up killing all three tags in one day and have nothing to do.

[Johndoe]

That's my plan. After I kill one will try to double with one of our crew. I have doubled but not a 1,2,3 boom double.

[Johndoe]

Lookin at 2 Longbeards in food plot now. Rainin here.

[wiltznucs]

I've always tried to start my hunts in NE sometime around the second week of May...

[Shooter]

I remember us talking about it. Thought Slicky was settin it up. I know all of us were in, plus Ricky, Doug, Brian, and maybe a few others are interested.
Should have my hiking legs back by then.

[Johndoe]

I had talked to Barry and I thought he said his guy said they closed it for a while due to low population.
Some of us here found a place reasonable so we are planning. Didn't mean to leave anyone out. Just a small place.