We had a really wet spring which has the crops really going. We have 90 percent of our food plots finished, and I can’t wait to see how great the hunting will be this fall and winter. Chuffa Gold—great for Nebraska waterfowl hunting and Merriam turkey hunting, Japanese millet—great for Central flyway goose hunting and duck hunting, and Clover and Brassica—outstanding for Nebraska trophy whitetail hunting.  We have planted Milo and corn along a creek bed as well as an area that will be flooded and make for great duck hunting similar to that of the southeastern area.

Our areas for archery whitetail deer hunts will be awesome with the trails leading from the bedding areas to the food plots. Stands are set up so that trophy whitetail rifle hunters will have many looks at our large population of bucks as they move from the North Platte River basin to the various feeding areas.

Hunters looking to bag a trophy Merriam, Eastern or Rio turkey should have no problem setting up in one of our blinds, having a guide call in a huge gobbler over decoys or belly crawl through the grasslands.

The plantings are looking good for the expanded pheasant preserve and we are seeing hatchlings already moving about the lodge grounds, proving that Nebraska wild pheasant hunting is alive and well. However, it is by no means on the same level as the world-class South Dakota pheasant hunting at Cheyenne Ridge Signature Lodge.  If Disney World is a must for children, then Signature Lodge is a must for adults.

I sit here in quiet reflection of what can only be a great year of hunting and of all the old friends and new friends to come. We’d love to have you join us.

Cheyenne Ridge Outfitters & Signature Lodge is excited to announce the addition of a new Labrador puppy from Diamond J. Brit. Labs. “This new relationship signifies the desire to take our dogs to the next level,” says Jim McKenzie, Lodge Manager at the North Platte Outpost. “We believe bringing in top quality imported blood lines coupled with proper training will help us continue to improve the hunting experience for our customers.”

General Manager Bob Edwards had this to say, “As the first lodge in the world to receive a Beretta Trident rating for quality and excellence in service, we have set some pretty high standards for our hunting program. Because of that, we have to be very selective as to who we work and affiliate with. Donna Ostendorf of Diamond J. Brit. Labs (www.ukbritlabs.com) has shown us that they meet the quality and standards to be a supplier to our retriever program. The process in which Donna goes through in selecting dogs to breed is intensive and they have a strong history of turning out champion hunters. We are proud to have a pup on site.”

Yep, I heard it when I was a teenager. Then again when I got into my 20’s. The younger generation is going down the tubes. Mostly I kind of believed it myself. I spent quite a few years towards the end of my military career working in the high schools all around the country as a recruiter, and I mean look at them. They don’t listen to their elders, they aren’t respectful, and can’t conduct themselves with any type of decorum.  Rules?  They can’t abide them and if given the chance wouldn’t make up their own.

However, there is a major problem with this idea now. Cheyenne Ridge Outfitters recently hosted the Scottsbluff High Senior Prom, and boy was I wrong! I have never witnessed a better bunch of young men and women in my life. From the decorating group to the way they treated the facility and each other, the respect shown speaks volumes about their class and upbringing. When I heard about the rules of the dance I fully expected there to be members who would go out of their way to break those rules or at least students that would not have a good time or spend very much time at the dance. I was informed the students had helped to make the rules and was again impressed by how mature and intelligent your students are.  Looking back I know now I should have known the high quality of students in the area as we have quite a few that work for us at our special events.

Throughout the night I kept thinking this was too good to be true, but you never let your teachers or yourselves down. At the end of the night, through the next day and the days that follow I find myself taking every opportunity to tell of how wrong I was about the younger generation, at least here in the local area of Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where we are now proud to call home. Great job! My faith has been restored.

The weather made it difficult for Jim and I, but we kept at the Nebraska turkey hunt.  We saw over nine very large gobblers, but they continued to hang up on us. There were occasions when we got within seventy-five yards but the gobbler wouldn’t commit any closer. Jim had one turkey bent on climbing inside a wood blind we had thrown together for him and stopped only five yards away. One afternoon we did a spot and stalk on a place where they enjoy strutting and had three huge gobblers coming to the call and talking back to us. Then seven jakes came running at us like the house was on fire. Unfortunately the older gobblers must have seen something because they took off and Jim stalked up to the plateau and watched as two or three hens and jakes were within ten to fifteen yards of him.

Finally the next morning we set up and had four or five gobblers on the roost coming our way until hens cut all of them off from us.  A stalk was put on a couple of toms that tried to slip around us through an open field.  We headed them off but couldn’t close the deal as the wily old gobblers once again sensed something was up and wouldn’t come close enough for the kill shot. Later we went back to the plateau and set up there to watch and call.  After a couple of hours two hens came in, then another with some jakes, and then a large-bodied tom with a good eight inch beard and nice cream Merriam tail. Jim was on him in no time ready with his Mossberg turkey slayer.

One shot at forty two yards and it was high fives and picture taken time. Everyone came out to see the trophy turkey, my kids included. I think Paul wondered what had taken us so long as once we had the bird tagged, he had Jim and Ross in tow and it was out to the prairie dog towns again. Jim and I are already discussing deer hunting season and a Nebraska waterfowl hunt for this fall. 

After the bird hunting trip ended I can say that I am looking forward to the next group of Flint, Michigan SCI hunters. These gentlemen showed us the same kindred spirit that the whole group at Flint’s SCI banquet did, and I look forward to returning there again as well. Thanks to Jerry Eaton, Craig and Scott Chapman as well as all the other members of the SCI chapter for making this a great relationship.

We just completed our first SCI Flint, MI hunt. Jim and Paul Kesteloot are on their way home, and its time to stow away the calls until the next Nebraska turkey hunt and take stock of the times shared.

It started off kind of rocky for Jim and Paul as their firearms somehow got misplaced during the airlines shuffling of baggage, but with Paul’s vast experience of hunting on six of the seven continents he knew the right things to do. “I guess we will just have to use slingshots,” and a cold stare seemed to do more to get the firearms delivered that night at 1 am than all the huffing and yelling might have. That night after hors d’oeuvres we decided on our game plan. Paul was to hunt with Ross and the two Jims would hunt together.

Early the next morning after we set up in the pre-dawn, we could hear the turkeys start their calling, gobblers booming. Paul and Ross (our other guide) had set up about four hundred yards east of us, and we were hopeful part of the drove would move toward them as the large gobbler flew down towards Jim and I. We watched as the hens fed from 100 yards towards us; occasionally we could see a gobbler head moving with them.

At seventy-five yards out they moved behind a large bush so we changed position enabling Jim to have a better shooting position. Suddenly we heard a shot ring out from the east. Paul had taken a nice tom with a beautiful fan and 5½ inch beard that he and Ross were able to watch work their decoy spread. The bird was taken at fifteen yards and Paul, while knowing he had plenty of opportunity to take larger birds, decided this one just called his name after the tom responded to the calling the second time. Meanwhile Jim was covered up in birds. Two hens walked by at ten yards, seven jakes moved by at fifteen, and unfortunately a very large gobbler hung up behind some bushes about ten yards away.

Paul, for the remainder of his Nebraska turkey hunt, saw the local sights and proceeded to assassinate the local prairie dog population—quite a feat in a 20-25 mph wind. A highlight of the remainder of his bird hunting trip was the Signature Prime Rib Dinner. I am told Paul is quite a finicky eater, but he seemed to clean up his plate and even left with a few new recipes.

Check back soon to find out if, “like father, like son,” held true on the Kesteloot’s Nebraska turkey hunting trip.

After 22 years in the United States Navy, my wife and I have gotten used to having friends, and making lifelong friends, in all of our many duty stations. Actually, that is one of the many benefits I came to enjoy about the Navy. As I neared retirement, I grew apprehensive about how we would adapt to a new area and the making of new friends, especially with the dreaded “civilians”.

I am pleased to report that after our first season, we can’t say enough good things about the owners, employees, and hunters of Cheyenne Ridge. The Weinreis family went out of their way to make our adjustment a smooth one, treating us more as family than employees. Everyone associated with Cheyenne Ridge did everything they could to get us what we needed to get moved in and be successful. From Chef Carl’s advice to Kerri, Head Guide Jim Lawhon’s guided tour of Signature Lodge to our children, Pam Reichert’s getting the kids registered in school, to Cinda Ross showing us where everything was at the hunting lodge, and Ross Juelfs accepting our Lead Guide position at North Platte.

Our hunters embraced our changes, the homemade biscuits and gravy served in the blinds, sweet tea, and homemade breads all were well received. Recipes were exchanged on various entrees such as prime rib, pies and even fried rabbit, as well as ideas on how to traverse barbed wire (which I especially appreciate Bub!) and many stories of great hunting memories here at the North Platte. As one of our recent clients that we are lucky enough to now call friend told us, “I continue to brag on Cheyenne Ridge, telling everyone that any day throughout the season, you are guaranteed to limit out here”. I was quick to point out that there wasn’t any guarantee any guide I knew of would put into writing. But, he said in all the time he had been hunting here, the end of the duck hunting season were great hunts.

We have met hunters from all over the United States and even outside the country and made good friends that we look forward to seeing again. I know that I have found a great job that allows me to, once again, find a different breed of people; the outdoorsman, conservationist and hunter. Our new friends have passed up on a limit, to watch the birds work the decoys and spill air as the guides called them in. They came from a thousand miles away, really just to see their dog work in some of the most challenging yet beautiful scenery. We have passed on big game, watching as they sparred so that the genetics could be passed on, and we could stand in awe of nature’s majesty. I don’t miss the comradery of the Navy, because I have found new shipmates to share my experiences with. So as the weather turns cooler, and we look towards the northern skys for the flights moving south, Kerri and I will hold a bed and spot in the blind for ya’ll.

Well, Kerri and I have just completed our first duck hunting season as managers of the North Platte Outpost. Ross and I finished putting away our duck hunting equipment, and we decided to float the river to collect runaway decoys and plan placement of new pit blinds. Chef Kerri decided to join us in her kayak, leaving the kitchen unattended for one morning, as we put in at the west blind around 11am.

As we slid through the ice cold water, I couldn’t help but be astounded by the beauty of the surrounding area. Bald eagles soared overhead looking for their next meal. I was struck by the large flocks of geese that continued to cover the fields all throughout the land that makes up the Cheyenne Ridge North Platte Outpost. Ross continuously pointed out various native foliage that bring the waterfowl pouring into the North Platte River backs, making it a veritable duck haven.

Coming around a slight bend in the river, the current picked up and brought me back to the present, as I once again witnessed the reason hunters come to the our lodge again and again. Literally thousands of ducks of various species and hundreds of geese sprang out of the river! Every dip of the paddle brought us closer to exciting wildlife. We saw whitetail deer grazing along the banks, does with their fawns following and a very large buck still proudly carrying his large set of antlers. They watched us glide nearer until mother decided it was time to leave the area and white flags flashed as they disappeared into the brush. While passing the old cottonwoods where the flocks of Merriam turkeys roost, we watched as they moved throughout the timbered fields, looking for food. It definitely looks like it will be a good spring season!! 

As we entered the stretch of river near the middle blind, enviously called the “Honey Haven” by the guides and customers alike, we saw more ducks and geese take flight from the river than I have ever seen in person, on TV, or in pictures!  Scattered amongst them were eight or nine bald eagles and what looked like golden eagles.  I wish we had a camera! This sight was so breathtaking we had to just stop and watch. It literally took some minutes for us to come back to the realization that we still had some distance to go to finish our journey. It had taken us a couple of hours to complete our tour of our three miles of the river; picking up various decoys that had drifted away during attacks from overhead by dive bombing waterfowl.

Our expert waterfowl guide, Ross Juelfs, and myself discussed many different new blind locations. The question not being if there was any, but the many possibilities that we could put in and still allow a multitude of haven locations. At the completion of our trip, I remembered all of my 22 years with the Navy and 29 different countries I have visited, as well as all the different places I have hunted and guided. In all of these I have never seen a place with such a diverse and abundance of wildlife, coupled with the natural beauty of Cheyenne Ridge North Platte Outpost. I am thankful to be able to spend time here and invite everyone to come join Kerri, Ross and myself on a waterfowl  hunt or trophy deer hunt in the near future.