Mule Deer Hunting

Would like to help you out but I'm from the opposite end of the state and not familiar with the area. Hopefully someone here from out west will weigh in.

Nobody has any experience with the Sandhills on this site?? Just some general information and quality & quanity of what we can expect would be great. Thanks guys

Bluedevil
I have hunted quite a bit of the Southern part of the Sandhills unit on private ground. I haven't hunted the McKevie National Forest because it is pretty remote and has a lot more grassland than forest, But it should be good hunting. The statewide buck only permit is an "over the counter permit", but the Sandhills unit is a draw permit (2008 it was 2400 either sex permits). If you are hunting bucks go for the statewide buck permit, which wouold allow you to hunt the whole state, but remember that Nebraska is a no trespass state and most of the ground is private and will have restricted access. Most of the ranchers already have plenty of hunters and will have to approached nicely to gain access to their ground. Keep me informed of your plans and I will try to help out if I can.

Thanks Dave - I thought that the Sandhills unit was over the counter? I must be reading that wrong. I wouldn't buy the statewide tag, as it would only be about a 5 day hunt and with research would need to be narrowed down to a specific area. Thanks

What weapon? 

I'm going to head out west to chase mulies with the bow this fall. Not sure where yet. But  w/rifle would be a draw.

I stand corrected, I looked up the 2008 regulations and the Sandhills unit is now a buy unit. In 2008 the Game Commission started selling Firearm Deer permits for both residents and nonresidents on June 9th through the end of the season or until the alloted permits for any particular unit had been sold. The only draw units for Deer were the Republican firearms and Desoto December Muzzleloader units. You will have to buy your permits online, by mail, or at Game & Parks Commission offices, they aren't sold at private vendors like, Walmart. In 2007 the Sandhills unit did not sell out, I'm not sure about 2008 because they haven't released that information yet.

Thanks Dave - That's what I thought but I was double checking so I didn't make an a** out of myself. We're still on the fence, as it sounds like it will be a barrage of people out in that area on strictly public ground. We like the fact of the over the counter tags though..

Sorry, I didn't know things chaned either. Guess I should have checked the ngpc site. Nice work catching that Dave.

I hunted Mckelvie last year rifle.  We had 3 guys and we tagged out by the second day.  If your going on public land.  be prepared for a lot of hunters.  Mckelvie is huge but i bet we saw close to 100 hunters both days.  the beauty of it was though we mainly saw them driving around which work out great for us because we headed out early the first day and tagged a nice muley and white tail opening morning.  We got our last but midway through sunday doing some walking through some of the treed areas.  If you like to slow roll with a truck and then step out and shoot mckelvie is your place because you can drive anywhere your heart desires.  I don't think thats much of a challenge but many people do it.  If i was you i would contact the bessey ranger district at halsey or go online and order a map, they are about 15$ but are very helpful.  As far as bucks go I'd hope for a monster but shoot the first good buck you see because they'll disappear quick.  My white tail went 155 3/8 and my brothers muley was 177 4/8 so that gives you an idea.  If you get a map let me know and once you have it i can give you some ideas on where to hunt.  I know a few guys who shoot huge muleys every year up there but there not willing to tell where.  Good luck thought and email me if you have any questions.  Blessinzs@unk.edu

Bluedevil,

I am also from ND and my brother in law and I hunted the sandhills unit two years ago, we went the last 5 days of season.  Wasted our time, we each harvested a 5x5 mulie but they were small and deer were very few and far between.  The McKelvie was overrun with ATV tracks and we only spent about a day and half there.  We got on some public land along the Niobrara River (I think it was Anderson Bridge) that is were we saw deer.  A mixture of whitetail and mule deer, but nothing big.

We are going again this year but are hunting the pine ridge unit.

Good luck and let us know how you do!