Merriam’s turkey historically were present in the plains states of the Midwest but were extirpated from Nebraska in 1915. However, in 1959 the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission commenced re-introductions of wild turkey into the State. Stock was comprised of both Merriam’s subspecies and the hybrid Merriam’s/Rio Grande stock. Populations became established and by the turn of the century, large winter flocks of 100 or more birds were not uncommon. Today, numbers are at and all time high, and similarly, the probability of bagging a turkey in either spring or fall is very high and in the former season, multiple gobblers are obtainable.

Spring wild turkey season in Nebraska generally opens in mid April and runs for 6 wks into late May. For season dates each year, go to the Nebraska Game and Parks web site. In 2008, in southeast Nebraska, turkey populations have resulted in unlimited permit availability. One only needs to apply and is assured of a hunting opportunity. The fall season permits combining upland game hunts with a turkey hunting opportunity. In the spring, one may bag up to three toms!

Hunters Hole is a recently established (2006) Premier Hunting Guide Business that has access to several thousand acres of optimum wooded areas interspersed with croplands and pasture. The Hole is located in extreme southeast Nebraska (see web page map) in Lewiston, Pawnee County. It is owned an operated by John and Mary Rinne. John has hunted turkey for years in Arizona and more recently in his home state. He has bagged multiple birds in both spring and fall season. John grew up in Nebraska and hunted upland game and rabbits and squirrels for the past 50 years.
Big game species such as turkey and deer were rare to absent in the region in the 1960s and 1970s. While guiding hunts in fall 2008, flocks of 50 turkeys were not common during upland game and deer hunting activities. In early December 2007 and 2008 in the same winter roosting area, 100-150 birds were counted coming off the roost and landing in a soybean field. Hunt packages and rates are included on the website, however, custom and combination (upland game/big game) hunts are available. Discounts for early bookings are a component of all offerings.

For those of you who have hunted wild turkey for years, you know the thrill and excitement of the experience, one that never grows old. For those of you who are novices or have never hunter this "wily, uncooperative big game species, but have always considered it,--enter the matrix! Come and experience waiting motionless, with mosquitoes or other insects buzzing you, often up to a half hour. Do so in the absence of creating even the slightest movement or noise except the artificial pleading mimics of a hen turkey emitted from you box or diaphragm call. Do this, while a boisterous, incessantly gobbling tom turkey both continually and raucously gobbles and rapidly-or slowly-approaches you. Remember, you are the hen who is to come to his bidding. Alternatively, he is silent, and comes in from an alternative direction of his first gobble, and appears as a ghost in the darkness as you make that movement you have long strived to avoid, or get up due to impatience to leave your quest, expose your futility.
Even deeper in the matrix, add two or perhaps three birds gobbling in cacophony that reaches such a heightened state, that you feel you will explode in you silence and motionlessness. A spring gobbler looking for a hen has hearing and sight capabilities beyond what we can imagine and is impregnated with the complete lack of curiosity for any motion or sound created by a hunter and will flee the scene immediately upon the detection of either. I once heard a turkey calling tape by two long time turkey hunters that made a bottom-line statement: "If an old tom turkey could smell, you would never bag one!" Indeed, spring wild turkey hunting is a thrilling and I would venture to say, a perhaps unequaled challenge in big game hunting.

Package 1:   5 Nights, 4 Days = $ 1,000   $ 400 Deposit
Package 2:   4 Nights, 3 Days = $ 750   $ 300 Deposit
Package 3:   3 Nights, 2 Days = $ 500   $ 200 Deposit

Day Hunts¹:  $ 100   $ 0 deposit

A 50% deposit is due upon application.
50% refund if cancellation is 30 days before hunt dates.
No refunds if less than 30 days prior to hunt dates.²


Multiple Day Hunts normally run from Sat/Tues, Sat/Mon, Sat/Sun; custom hunts available
Payment upon arrival; reduced rates for succeeding day hunts.


PAYMENT IN FULL UPON ARRIVAL

¹Payment upon arrival; reduced rates for succeeding Day Hunts

²80% refund, full deposit voucher, or same season date change, if cancellation for involuntary reasons
(i.e. medical or other emergencies)