Nebraska Whitetail: A Deer Hunter’s Perfect Getaway
What makes Nebraska a great state to harvest whitetail deer in? Many factors make Nebraska perfect for hunting whitetail, but let’s address the most important reasons. Terrain, low-hunt pressure, an easy tagging system, and the ability to rifle hunt during the Nebraska whitetail rut all play key roles in creating the perfect set up. The key to being successful with the harvest of a 150-inch Nebraskan whitetail is, as realtors often say, location, location, location. A small portion of the state is responsible for the majority of its whitetail harvest numbers, but why? Nebraskan terrain. The terrain in Nebraska is generally one of two types. The first type of terrain somewhat resembles Texas land, in a fashion. Open prairies full of tumbleweed, wild marijuana, and cactus abound, with steep and abrupt inclines, which can make even the most seasoned Nebraska sportsman gasp for breath during his morning whitetail outing. This kind of land is commonly referred to as mule deer terrain. The local residents, however, also call it canyon country; Nebraskan canyon country offers some excellent Merriam turkey hunting, but isn’t the whitetail deer hunter’s favorite, because whitetails are aggressive toward mule deer, and run them up into canyon country. Once the mule deer have been chased away by the whitetails, the whitetail herd returns to our second type of terrain: river bottom country, fertile ground offering a variety of crops like corn, soybeans, wheat, and other popular Midwestern crops. The river bottom ground is Nebraska’s perfect hunter’s oasis; mature whitetail bucks thrive there around the river bottom basins. The majority of the whitetail herd in Nebraska has been shoved into the Republican River Bottom Basin, specifically, to lay claim to its nutrient-rich soils, producing hearty crops. These crops, in turn, provide maximum antler growth for the herd, and a drink of water is never far away. Deer hunting – particularly for whitetail – in the State of Nebraska is like a well kept secret. This has caused the lowest amount of hunt pressure many Nebraska outfitters have ever seen, full of whitetail bucks with several pounds of antler on their heads. There are definitely some key locations in Nebraska for the pursuit of whitetail, specifically, but remember, in Nebraska your success is largely determined by the terrain chosen to hunt. Canyon country can destroy your success rate, but the calmer riverbottom country – Nebraska’s whitetail hunt selling point – will provide you with the hunt of a lifetime, and higher success rates than you’ve ever imagined. The trophy whitetails are located in South Central Nebraska, in the counties of Kearney, Franklin, Harlam, Webster, and Adams. In these counties, the Republican River provides water and rich soil to area farmers and agricultural businesses, which may account for why the world's largest set of whitetail antlers was found in Nebraska in 1959. The best lodging for whitetail hunts can be found in the counties of Kearney, Franklin, Bloomington, Naponee, Republican City and Rivertown, Nebraska.