When hardcore trophy hunters seek monster antlers, they often head for Kansas, Iowa, or Illinois. However, Nebraska has similar characteristics such as good genetics, wide open spaces, and plenty of protein. There’s a good reason they call it the “Cornhusker State.”
However, Nebraska seems to be slighted when sportsmen are on the prowl for trophy bucks. Mark Kayser, native of South Dakota, knows full well the prowess of his neighbor to the south and touts Nebraska’s potential in this article for Western Whitetail.
I couldn’t have scripted the hunt any better. Whitetails were filing out one by one to the western Nebraska winter wheat field. In tow behind the brigade of does and fawns was a mature, classy-looking 4×4 buck only steps away from my muzzleloader tag. I was hidden in an abandoned irrigation pump site; and, as I scanned the field one more time to ensure my concealment I turned to check on the buck. To my astonishment, the buck was gone.
I gripped my T/C Triumph firmly and eased up on my knees to get a better viewpoint. Questioning my first sighting, I sighed when I spotted him again, bedded a mere 60 yards away. Unfortunately, I only had eyeballs and antlers in view. I knew I didn’t have a shot. Plus, shooting light was fading faster than a toddler on an all-day shopping marathon. My mind raced with headache ferocity as I tried to find an answer to my muzzleloader dilemma.
