McKelvie National Forest: Low-Pressure Deer Hunting in the Sandhills

Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest covers 116,000 acres in Cherry County, making it one of the largest blocks of public hunting land in Nebraska. What makes McKelvie unique is the habitat — hand-planted ponderosa pine stands scattered across the Sandhills grasslands, creating a patchwork of timber and open prairie that holds deer in numbers most hunters do not realize. And the harvest data tells the story: this place gets hunted less per acre than almost any other public ground in the state.

The History and Habitat

McKelvie is part of the Nebraska National Forest system, and like its sister forest near Halsey, the ponderosa pine here was planted by hand during the early 1900s in one of the most ambitious forestation projects in American history. The result is a man-made forest dropped into the middle of the Sandhills — an ecosystem of pine stands, grassland openings, wet meadows, and sandy ridgelines that creates outstanding edge habitat for deer.

The combination of timber cover and grassland feed within walking distance makes this area extremely attractive to both species of Nebraska deer. The pine stands provide thermal cover during winter, bedding security year-round, and escape cover during hunting season. The surrounding grasslands and nearby ranch hay meadows provide food.

Mule Deer and Whitetail at McKelvie

Mule deer are the dominant species in the open Sandhills grasslands and on the dune ridges between pine plantations. These are not the giant desert mule deer of the southwest, but Sandhills muleys are respectably sized and plentiful. They tend to bed on the open dune tops during the day and move to feed in the meadows and pine edges during low-light hours.

Whitetail concentrate in and around the pine stands and along any drainages or wet areas. During the November rut, whitetail bucks cruise the edges of pine plantations checking for does, making the timber-to-grassland transition zone the highest-percentage setup on the property.

Why the Pressure Is So Low

McKelvie sits about 25 miles south of Valentine in the middle of the Sandhills — one of the most sparsely populated regions in the lower 48 states. Cherry County is roughly the size of Connecticut but has a population under 6,000. Most visiting hunters head to Valentine NWR for waterfowl or to the Pine Ridge for the scenery, leaving McKelvie's vast acreage relatively untouched.

The Forest Service roads provide vehicle access to the periphery of the planted sections, but the interior requires walking through soft sand and over dune ridges. That physical filter keeps the casual crowd out. Get a mile from any road and you are likely the only hunter for a very long distance.

Hunting Tactics

For mule deer, glass the dune ridges at first and last light. Muleys will be visible on the skyline as they move between bedding and feeding areas. Plan stalks using the draws between dunes for concealment — the soft sand makes for quiet approaches.

For whitetail, focus on the pine stand edges. Set up a portable stand or ground blind where deer trails exit timber into grassland openings. During the rut, still-hunting through the pine plantations can be effective, especially on windy days when your movement and sound are masked.

Logistics

Valentine is the nearest full-service town. Bring extra water and fuel — there are no services within the forest. Cell service is spotty to nonexistent. A detailed topo map or GPS with downloaded maps is essential for navigating the maze of forest roads and knowing where national forest land ends and private ranch land begins.

Best Times

The November firearms season is prime for both species. Archery hunters can find excellent early-season mule deer action in September when the bucks are still in predictable summer patterns. Late-season hunts in December and January can be productive for whitetail near food sources.

McKelvie National Forest is one of Nebraska's most overlooked public land resources. Low pressure, solid deer numbers, and over 100,000 acres to explore — it just does not get much better for public land deer hunting in the Sandhills.