NEBRASKAland Magazine is dedicated to outstanding photography and informative writing with an engaging mix of articles and photos highlighting Nebraska’s outdoor activities, parklands, wildlife, history and people.
Issue link: https://mag.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1541806
14 Nebraskaland • November 2025 Do something new this deer season, like sitting atop a ridgeline, bow at your grasp, scanning the horizon on your Nebraska adventure. ERIC FOWLER, NEBRASKALAND IN THE FIELD Deer season is more about making memories than success. Very rarely does a deer harvested outweigh everything else that surrounded the hunt. Form a new memory this firearm deer season with one, or more, of these options: A New Cut – Whether you process your deer at home or take it to a meat locker, try something new. After years of grinding the majority of my venison into burger, I ordered some jalapeno-and-cheese summer sausage from my processor, and it has become a family favorite. Stop at the Check Station – Even if you don't have a deer to check in, it can be fun to pull into a check station parking lot, talk to other hunters and see what they have harvested. You never know what you will find. I just happened to pull into the check station at the Schramm Education Center in 2009 when Wesley O'Brien, a hunter from Texas, was checking in a 38-point whitetail buck that would be the new non-typical state record. Hunt All Day – With today's creature comforts, this is easy to do. While I've never done it, sitting atop a ridge overlooking a valley with the wind in my face on opening day while watching a full slate of college football games sounds like a relaxing way to spend the day. This puts you in the field when other hunters are coming and going, which often forces deer to move. Bucket List – Plan an out-of-town trip to a place you've never hunted. Use the Nebraska Public Access Guide and the onX Hunt app and talk to regional biologists about finding a place for your first spot-and-stalk deer hunt. If you're a rifle hunter, it might be too late to get a permit in some of these units. If you're a bowhunter, you might just be able to start packing now. The Local Tavern – The first opening day hunt I ever went on, at the age of 12, began at a local tavern outside of Ashland, Mississippi. Following our group in the door, the sight of hunter orange vests filling the room nearly blinded me. Decades later, this memory is still firmly cemented in my mind. Group Chat – A few years ago, I sent a text to a long list of friends and colleagues, asking if they wanted to be part of a group chat about what they were seeing from their stand on opening morning. Shortly after sunset on the eve of the opener, people began to wish each other luck. The next morning, hunters shared photographs, stories and congratulations — truly happy for someone else's success even if they hadn't yet squeezed the trigger. Start your own group, or another type of memory, this year. SOMETHING NEW THIS DEER SEASON By Jeff Kurrus