Nebraska's Pine Ridge or Sandhills?

BuckeyeHunter · Jul 7, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Jul-09-13 AT 09:25PM (MST)[p]Hey everyone, I'm looking to hunt in Nebraska's Dec. muzzleloader season, and I was wondering if anyone had some insight on whether the sandhills or pine ridge unit would have a higher muley population, and more mature bucks. In the pine ridge I'd be looking at oglala, ft robinson, and chadron state park. In the sandhills I'd be looking at mckelvie. Any info about either of these units or these public lands would be greatly appreciated, thank you very much

Also I am wondering what type of patterns the bucks would be on at this time of year. Back in Ohio the deer are all hammering food sources to regain body mass post rut, but I know time of rut varies from parts of the country and possibly between muleys and w.t. Thanks again for any input

30Hart · Jul 8, 2013

I'd say Sandhills but its been awhile.

DoeNob · Jul 10, 2013

Last scuttlebutt I heard was the pine ridge areas you are talking about are pressured pretty hard. They also had a fire last year that burned up a bunch of the good ogalala deer habitat. I archery antelope hunted there for a few days and there was quite a bit of charred black ground.

beech18 · Jul 10, 2013

Ive hunted the Pine Ridge area in and around those areas listed during the muzzy season. Can be a good hunt, but as mentioned above. Can be heavily pressured areas. The late muzzy season is after the rifle season and the deer will be well educated and spooky. Ive found finding lots of does is not a problem, finding mature bucks will be far and few between if your hunting public areas. The biggest fustration is seeing good number of good bucks on private land. And they seem to know the boundrys as they seldom drift off. Ive hunted it 5 differnt years, have killed 2 bucks. Also as seen in the picture, fires went through much of the area last year and also heard reports of EHD going through the area last year too. I didnt notice the deer numbers being down as I still saw lots of does last year but thats what I heard. Depends what your expectations are, if just going hunting with a chance at a deer, then you will have fun, but if your expecting to kill a buck with ease, look elsewhere. This is just my 2 cents from my observations.

Cornhusker · Jul 11, 2013

What the guys above are telling you is true. I believe over 100,000 acres burned last year in several of the different areas. EHD has been a factor especially last year. According to the State game commission some areas lost 70 percent to EHD or the disease muleys pick up through snails in wet meadows. As private is becoming leased by many different groups an individuals more hunters are getting pushed to public land. The drought has really had a detrimental effect and it is continuing .

The good news Crescent Lake National Wildlife area southeast of Alliance gets less pressure if you get in the sand dunes far. It's open country but has a lot of whitetails as well as muleys. Be careful we had a game warden who got lost 2 or 3 years ago and almost froze to death during a blizzard, muzzy season. All the Sandhills look alike an no reference points when you're a few miles in. Get high, scout lakes and water holes early and late in day. Good luck ! If I can help you anymore PM me.

BuckeyeHunter · Jul 11, 2013

God, ya just hate seeing those forests get burnt up like that, and hearing about the EHD. Unfortunately mother nature isn't always nice, also cornhusker I sent a pm thanks