The Complete Guide to Nebraska Spring Turkey Season

Nebraska might be the most underrated turkey state in America. While hunters flock to Missouri, Alabama, and the Ozarks, Nebraska quietly produces outstanding spring gobbler hunting across nearly the entire state. Three subspecies, over-the-counter permits, long seasons, and generous bag limits make this a destination that deserves far more attention than it gets.

Season Dates and Bag Limits

Nebraska's spring turkey season typically runs from mid-April through the end of May. The season is divided into an archery-only period beginning in mid-March and a shotgun/archery season that starts in April. The exact dates are set annually by Nebraska Game and Parks.

Bag limits are generous: hunters can typically harvest up to three spring birds, with a combination of shotgun and archery tags available. Only male or bearded turkeys may be harvested in the spring season. Permits are sold over the counter for both residents and non-residents.

Three Subspecies in One State

Nebraska sits at the crossroads of three wild turkey subspecies, and understanding their distribution is key to planning your hunt.

Eastern turkeys dominate the southeast and east-central parts of the state, concentrated in the timber along the Missouri River, Big and Little Nemaha, and Blue River drainages. Eastern birds are the classic dark-plumaged gobblers that most hunters picture.

Rio Grande turkeys occupy the central and western regions, thriving in the riparian corridors along the Platte, Republican, and Niobrara rivers. Rios tend to be found in more open country and are known for their vocal nature and willingness to come to a call.

Merriam's turkeys live in the Pine Ridge and the northwest corner of the state, inhabiting the ponderosa pine forests and adjacent grasslands. Merriam's are the most striking of the three, with bright white tips on their tail feathers and a reputation for being less pressured and more responsive to calling.

A dedicated hunter can chase all three subspecies in a single Nebraska spring season — a rare opportunity.

Best Counties for Turkey Hunting

Southeast Nebraska — Nemaha, Richardson, Pawnee, and Johnson counties — holds the highest Eastern turkey populations. The dense hardwood timber along the creeks and rivers provides excellent roosting and strutting habitat.

Platte River corridor — Hall, Buffalo, Dawson, and Lincoln counties — is Rio Grande territory. Birds roost in the cottonwood stands along the river and strut in adjacent hay meadows and agricultural fields.

Pine Ridge — Dawes, Sioux, and Sheridan counties — is Merriam's country. The mix of pine forest, open meadows, and ranch land creates excellent spring habitat, and hunting pressure is low.

Calling Strategies

Spring turkey hunting is a calling game, and Nebraska birds respond well because they face relatively light pressure compared to the southern and eastern turkey states.

Early season birds are henned up and can be stubborn. Soft tree yelps at dawn followed by patient calling — a few yelps every 10 to 15 minutes — works better than aggressive cutting and loud calling when hens are still with the gobblers.

Mid-season is prime time. Hens begin nesting and gobblers suddenly find themselves alone and looking for company. This is when aggressive calling — cutting, excited yelps, and gobble calls — can bring a hot tom running from 200 yards away.

Late season birds have heard it all. Scale back to soft clucks and purrs, and rely on patience. A lone decoy with subtle calling can fool a mature gobbler that has been educated by weeks of hunting pressure.

Decoy Setups

A standard setup for Nebraska spring turkey hunting is a hen and jake combination. Place the jake decoy facing toward your position, about 15 to 20 yards out. The jake creates a visual challenge for a dominant gobbler, often triggering an aggressive response that brings the bird straight to your decoy spread.

In open country — which is common in central and western Nebraska — decoys are almost essential. A gobbler in a Nebraska Platte River valley hay meadow can see a decoy from 300 yards across a hay meadow, and that visual draw pulls them into range when calling alone might not close the deal.

Nebraska's spring turkey season is a hidden gem. Accessible tags, multiple subspecies, scenic country, and responsive birds add up to one of the best spring hunts available. If you have not put Nebraska on your turkey list, it is time.