Hunters gather around the tailgate after a successful day hunting turkeys in Nebraska. (Tess Rousey photo)
March 25, 2026
By Jessyca Sortillon
Every now and then, a hunt unfolds exactly the way you hope it will. That’s not usually how things go for me, but my first Nebraska turkey hunt was the exception. Good planning, preparation, and a little luck made everything fall into place. Little did I know, the fun would continue after my gobbler hit the ground.
Scoring a Limited Nebraska Turkey Tag When I secured my Nebraska spring turkey permit, I was ecstatic. Getting one has become increasingly difficult for nonresidents since the state began capping sales at 10,000 in 2024. The tags are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and this year they sold out in under two hours. It’s no surprise the permits go quickly, as Nebraska offers turkey hunters the chance to chase three subspecies (Merriam’s, Rio Grande, and Eastern), and hybrids are common throughout the state. As a nonresident, landing a tag felt like a big win.
Turkey season came fast. I packed up my King’s camo , hunting boots, calls, and everything else I’d need to chase gobblers, then hit the road for Arnold, NE. I was fortunate to camp with Arterburn Outdoors , headed by Joe Arterburn. The camp was comfortable and well organized, with cozy wall tents and hot meals prepared in a kitchen stocked with Camp Chef cookware and stoves. Arterburn handled the camp logistics, while Hidden Valley Outfitters provided the guiding and access to over 55,000 acres of rugged Sandhills terrain. We had plenty of room to roam in search of gobblers.
Morning light breaks through a wide sky over the rolling grasslands of the Nebraska Sandhills, where quiet hills and open country set the stage for a spring turkey hunt. (Jessyca Sortillon photo) Preparing for the Hunt After settling into camp, I got straight to work preparing for the hunt. Since mosquitoes and ticks seem to find me no matter where I go, I sprayed my boots and outer camo layers with Sawyer Permethrin Fabric Treatment . It’s best to treat gear early in the day so it has time to dry before the next morning’s hunt. Then I loaded my vest with essential calls, a few snacks, and other small items I might need within reach during the hunt.
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Next, I patterned my shotgun. Patterning is an important step for a turkey hunt, especially if you haven’t used a particular setup before. I shot a paper turkey target at 40 yards with a Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 loaded with a Crio full choke and HEVI-18 TSS Turkey ammo. The pattern showed even pellet distribution with several vital hits. This shotgun, choke, and ammo combo would be lethal on a turkey.
At 40 yards, the Benelli SBE 3 and HEVI-18 TSS Turkey produced an even pattern with solid vital hits. (Tess Rousey photo) With my gear ready, it was time to go find some birds.
Scouting the Sandhills That evening, we split up into groups to scout. Using vehicles allowed us to cover plenty of ground without disturbing birds. As the truck rattled down Nebraska’s country roads, I scanned the landscape with my Maven binos through the passenger-side window. Hens fed along fence lines and freshly tilled cornfields, and rafters of wild turkeys moved across the cropland. Each sighting earned a waypoint in onX Hunt , and by the end of the drive my map was dotted with pins marking potential spots to hunt.
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Scouting Tip: Place waypoints in onX Hunt wherever you see turkeys, so you know where to return to later. You can even mark spots you haven’t walked to by using Compass and Rangefinder mode. Open the Tools menu, tap Compass Mode, point your phone in the bird’s direction, use the distance marks to estimate how far away he is, then tap the Rangefinder and drop a waypoint where the bird is located. (Tess Rousey photo) A Tom Spotted on Private Land The first morning of the hunt, I hunted alongside Buck Martin from Backbone Media and Brett Halstead of Hidden Valley Outfitters. We worked through several of the waypoints, but despite the promising signs from scouting, we didn’t locate any birds. Later that afternoon, while driving to another potential spot, we finally spotted turkeys again. First one hen, then four or five more hens, and finally a tom.
He was a good-looking bird, but the flock was standing on private property, where we didn’t have permission to hunt. Halstead made a quick left at the next turn and pulled onto neighboring property we could legally hunt. The plan was simple: we’d call that tom over to us.
Calling a Fired-Up Gobbler Across the Road I opened my onX Hunt map to confirm the property lines. Everything looked good, so we grabbed our gear and started trudging up a hill. From the top, we could see the row of trees just across the road where the turkeys were, about 180 yards away. A short wire fence ran just below the crest of the hill, and according to the map, both sides of the fence were within legal hunting boundaries.
“Do I need to wait for him to cross that fence,” I whispered to Buck, “or can I shoot as soon as I see him?”
“Take him as soon as you have a good shot,” he confirmed.
The author waits for the strutting tom to crest the hill and enter shooting range. (Buck Martin photo) Halstead placed a large strutting tom decoy near the top of the hill. We spread out and settled into a concealed position among a cluster of juniper trees. Halstead started calling with a few fighting purrs on a slate call.
The tom immediately hammered back. Game on. We continued calling, mixing in cuts and yelps with a Primos mouth call . Each time we called, the gobbler answered, and he was getting closer.
It wasn’t long before we saw the tom emerge from the trees. He stepped out and began crossing the road, strutting and gobbling the entire way. During the spring breeding season, toms can become intensely territorial, and this bird was clearly fired up.
The gobbler that crossed the road. (Naynon/Shutterstock photo) He strutted across the pavement with his feathers puffed and his fan fully spread. The top of his head had turned bright white with excitement. He had spotted the decoy and wasn’t about to let another tom invade his territory.
The gobbler stepped off the road onto the pasture below us and briefly disappeared from sight. Even though we couldn’t see him, his gobbles were getting closer. I shouldered my shotgun and waited. My heart was pounding.
Within moments, his red, white, and blue head crested the ridge just behind the wire fence. I settled the red bead on my gun just below his head, above the swollen caruncles, and squeezed the trigger. At 35 yards, the tom dropped in his tracks, and within seconds, he was still.
Halstead and Martin were surprised at how quickly I took the shot. They expected me to wait until the turkey came fully into view, but the moment was perfect, and I felt confident. My quick decision paid off.
The author with her first Nebraska turkey. (Brooks Hansen photo) More Than the Hunt I was the first hunter to tag a bird that week. Did that mean turkey camp was over for me? Absolutely not.
In my experience, many hunters pack up and leave once they fill their tag. I never do. There’s always more to a hunt than the moment you squeeze the trigger and drop an animal, and I enjoy supporting the other hunters and celebrating their harvests.
If I had left early, I would have missed a lot.
Tagging out early allowed the author to relax and enjoy the rest of the week at camp; she even found time to do a little fishing. (Jessyca Sortillon photo) Sleeping in the morning after tagging out felt pretty good. While the other hunters headed out before sunrise to chase gobblers, I enjoyed a slow morning at camp with a cup of coffee. And that afternoon, I spent time fly fishing at the small lake near camp.
As the week went on and fellow hunters began tagging their birds, I was there to celebrate each success. Bethany Beathard (outdoor writer and content creator) completed her turkey grand slam with a Merriam’s, and it was awesome to see and share in her excitement. I also joined Sam Arterburn (hunting pro and Meindl rep) and Tess Rousey (outdoor photographer) on a trek through the Sandhills. Watching them double up on turkeys was an incredible moment to witness.
Sam Arterburn and Tess Rousey doubled up on turkeys in the Nebraska Sandhills. (Jessyca Sortillon photo) Cory Peterson, owner and operator of Hidden Valley Outfitters, even took a small group of us on a cattle-tagging adventure. We rode around in an ATV, searching for days-old calves to tag and vaccinate. I had never done anything like it before. Each time we spotted a calf, Cory etched an ear tag and recorded the number in his log. Then we chased down the little critters and hooked them by the foot, which was tricky with the protective moms nearby and could be dangerous if not done carefully. After being tagged and vaccinated, each calf was released back to its mama. The process can be intense to watch but it is an essential step to ensure the calves stay healthy and properly documented. Between dodging the moms and laughing with the group, it was a unique experience that added a whole new layer to the trip.
In Nebraska, ranchers typically tag calves within the first 24 hours to ensure accurate records and a healthy start. (Jessyca Sortillon photo) Final Thoughts Looking back, everything about my hunt just seemed to come together, from getting a hard-to-get tag to calling in that gobbler on the very first day. By the end of the week, every hunter in camp had successfully tagged a turkey.
But the highlight wasn’t just filling a Nebraska tag. It was the camp, the people, the shared hunts, the celebrations, and everything in between. Sometimes the best parts of a hunt happen after the tag is filled, and that’s what really makes a successful week at turkey camp.
As each hunter filled their tag, a bird was hung along the side of the main wall tent at camp. (Tess Rousey photo) The Gear That Got It Done Shotgun: Benelli Super Black Eagle 3 (Mossy Oak Bottomland) Lightweight and dependable, the SBE 3 is easy to carry on long hunts. Its CombTech cheek pad and ComforTech 3 recoil-reduction system soften the punch of turkey loads, making it comfortable to shoot when a gobbler steps into range.
Type: Semi-auto Gauge: 20; 3-inch chamber Capacity: 3+1 shells Barrel: 26 in. Overall Length: 47.5 in. Length of Pull: 14-3/8 in. Drop at Heel: 2-1/8 in. Drop at Comb: 1-3/8 in. Stock: Comfort Tech 3 Weight: 5.8 lbs Sight: Red-bar front Accessories: Flush Crio Chokes (C, IM and F) & Wrench, Extended Crio Chokes (IC and IM), Shim Kit, Standard Hard Case MSRP: $2,299 | benelliusa.com Ammo: HEVI-18 TSS Turkey Ultra-dense 18 g/cc tungsten pellets deliver tight patterns and deep penetration, ensuring clean kills at typical turkey distances, even when shooting 20- or .410-gauge shotguns.
Gauge: 20 Shot size: 9 Shotshell length: 2-3/4 in Shot weight: 1 1/4 oz, Muzzle velocity: 1200 fps $88.99 (5 shotshells) | hevishot.com High-density HEVI-18 TSS in the SBE3 gave the author the power she needed for a 35-yard shot. (Jessyca Sortillon photo) Clothing: King’s Camo (XK7 Pattern) The author’s layering system included the Women's Hunter Long Sleeve Tee , XKG Ridge Pant , XKG Pinnacle Jacket , and a head/neck gaiter . The XK7 pattern helped keep her well-concealed in Nebraska’s mixed grasses and trees.
Available sizing: Men's, women's, and kids 5-Layer System: Base Layer, Mid Layer, Insulation, Softshell, Hardshell Shop pre-bundled gear: Turkey Kit kingscamo.com Vest: Will Primos Turkey Vest This vest organizes calls, shells, and essentials while remaining comfortable during long sits.
Features: adjustable shoulder straps, multiple pockets, lanyard D-rings for locator calls and accessories, and a removable seat pad. Camo: Mossy Oak Bottomland $199.99 | primos.com Footwear: Meindl Boots and Merino Wool Socks Covering rolling Sandhills terrain meant plenty of walking. These boots, paired with breathable, odor-resistant Merino socks, provided the support and comfort needed to move quietly across the hills.
Maven B.3 Binos & Rangefinder RF.1 (Rob Adair photo) Optics: Maven Binos and Rangefinder, plus Wiley X Sunglasses Quality optics from Maven and Wiley X helped the author spot birds across the terrain and accurately judge distances when scouting and hunting.
Calls: Primos Rare Breed Slate Call and Long Hooks Mouth Call Start with the slate call to grab a gobbler’s attention, then switch to the hands-free diaphragm call. Using yelps and aggressive cuts, you can coax him into range while staying ready on the gun.
GPS Mapping App: onX Hunt An essential app for confirming property boundaries, navigating unfamiliar terrain, and marking turkey sightings during scouting trips.
Provides detailed land ownership data, offline maps, and more In-dash integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Available on mobile (iOS, Android) and desktop (Mac, PC) onxmaps.com/hunt Tick & Insect Protection: Sawyer Permethrin Fabric Treatment A quick spray of this fabric treatment on boots and outer layers keeps ticks and mosquitoes at bay during long hours in the field.
Bonds to fabric fibers for up to 6 weeks or 6 washes, whichever comes first Available aerosol sizes: 6 oz., 9 oz., 18 oz. sawyer.com
Jessyca Sortillon
Digital Managing Editor
Jessyca Sortillon is the Digital Managing Editor at Outdoor Sportsman Group. Her work has been published in Be Ready!, Wheels Afield, and Predator Nation magazines, as well as online for various OSG publications, including Game & Fish, Petersen's Hunting, and In-Fisherman. She's also been featured on an episode of Shooting USA on Outdoor Channel.
Camo and waders weren't part of Sortillon's wardrobe growing up, but she has fully embraced the outdoors as an adult. Always ready for a challenge, she'll eagerly take you up on just about any hunting or fishing adventure. Whether it involves feathers, fur, fins, or even creatures with scales — she's all in. She also enjoys outdoor cooking, camping, and testing all types of outdoor gear.
Sortillon lives in Colorado with her husband, teenage son, and pack of feisty Pomeranians.
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