A Nebraska Merriam turkey hunt with Double D Trophy Outfitters puts you on private ranch land in the Sandhills and Pine Ridge region, where birds are plentiful and hunting pressure is low. For a full overview of Nebraska turkey hunting, see our Nebraska Turkey Hunting Guide. Here is what to expect from the moment you book until your last afternoon in the field.
A Merriam turkey hunt in Nebraska is a spring season pursuit of Merriam’s wild turkeys on private or public land, typically running 3 to 5 days with lodging and meals included. Nebraska is one of the top destinations in the country for Merriam turkey hunting because the state holds a strong population of mature gobblers and sells nonresident tags over the counter with no draw required. Double D Trophy Outfitters has run semi-guided Merriam turkey hunts on private Nebraska and South Dakota ranches since 2000, with near 100 percent shot opportunity across more than two decades.
Nebraska spring turkey season runs from late March through May, with archery opening in late March and shotgun season opening in mid-April. Exact dates change annually, and Double D posts current season dates on their Nebraska Season Dates page. For a full breakdown of permit deadlines and when to buy tags, see our Nebraska Turkey Hunting License and Tag Guide.
The spring Merriam turkey season in Nebraska breaks into three distinct phases, and each one changes how birds behave and how you hunt them.
Early Season (mid-April through April 25): Birds are still flocked up in large winter groups. Gobblers stay close to hens and roost in the same trees night after night. This is blind hunting time. You set up on a known roost before first light and wait for birds to fly down into range. Patience pays off because the flocks are predictable.
Mid-Season (April 25 through May 10): Hens start nesting, and gobblers get lonely. This is when run-and-gun calling shines. You cover ground, locate a sounding gobbler, set up fast, and work him in with aggressive yelps and purrs. Late morning through early afternoon is prime time because hens have slipped off to nests and toms are searching.
Late Season (May 10 through May 31): Hens are sitting on nests full time, and gobblers are desperate. This is the best calling window of the entire spring. Lonely toms respond hard to locator calls and decoy setups. Heat can slow gobbling earlier in the day as May progresses, so plan to be in position well before sunrise and hunt through midday.
Nebraska sells nonresident spring turkey permits over the counter for approximately $130 per bird, plus a $25 habitat stamp. No draw required. Youth permits run just $8. If you book the two-state hunt, you will also need a South Dakota Black Hills tag. Double D walks every hunter through the tag process. For full permit costs, step-by-step purchase instructions, deadlines, and a cost breakdown, see our Nebraska Turkey Hunting License and Tag Guide.
Nebraska welcomes young hunters. Kids can start at age 10 with an $8 youth turkey permit, and youth shotgun season opens a week before the general season. A Merriam turkey hunt is one of the best first hunts a kid can go on. For full details on youth tags, hunter education requirements, and season dates, see the Youth Turkey Tags section of our License and Tag Guide.
Double D runs semi-guided turkey hunts, which means you get exclusive access to private ranch land, on-site transportation, lodging, and meals, but you do the hunting yourself. A guide puts you on the right ground, shows you where birds roost and strut, and handles game recovery. You bring your own shotgun or bow, your own calling skills, and your own hunting instincts.
This model gives you more freedom than a fully guided hunt where a guide sits in the blind with you. Semi-guided works best for hunters who have some turkey hunting experience and want to hunt their own style on unpressured private ground. If you are new to turkey hunting, Double D will coach you through calling and setup strategies, and the high bird density on their ranches means you will get opportunities.
Your day starts well before first light. You meet at the lodge, grab a quick breakfast, and head to your hunting area while it is still dark. Double D’s guides drop you at the right spot based on where birds roosted the night before.
Morning setup: You are in position 30 minutes before legal shooting light. If you are blind hunting in early season, you sit tight and wait for birds to fly down. If you are running and gunning in mid to late season, you listen for gobbles on the roost and move to set up on a bird that sounds off.
Midday: The action can slow between 10 AM and noon as birds loaf in shade. This is a good time to break for lunch or reposition to afternoon strut zones. On a 3-day hunt, you will learn the rhythm of your particular piece of ground.
Afternoon: Gobblers come back to strut zones in the afternoon, especially late in the season. You set up on travel corridors between roosting and feeding areas and wait. The last two hours of daylight can produce some of the best action of the day.
Evening: You head back to the lodge for a hot meal, share stories from the day, and plan the next morning’s approach. Lodging and meals are included in every Double D package.
You need to bring your own weapon and personal hunting gear. Here is what Double D recommends:
Double D provides blinds, on-ranch transportation, game recovery, lodging, and meals. You do not need to pack a blind or food.
For the full packing rundown, shotgun and choke picks, layering advice, and a printable checklist, see our turkey hunting gear list for a Nebraska Merriam hunt.
Double D’s Nebraska turkey ground sits in the Sandhills and Pine Ridge region of the state, a mix of river bottoms, open meadows, and pine-covered ridges. This terrain holds turkeys year round because it offers everything the birds need: roosting trees along creek bottoms, open feeding areas in meadows, and security from hunting pressure on private land.
The South Dakota portion of the two-state hunt takes you into the Black Hills, where Merriam turkeys are native. The Black Hills offer classic Merriam habitat: ponderosa pine slopes, open meadows, and ridge-top strutting zones. Hunting two states in five days gives you four birds and two completely different terrains, which is something no single-state outfitter can match. If you are working toward your turkey Grand Slam, see our Merriam Turkey Grand Slam Guide for how this hunt fits into the slam.
Most Nebraska turkey outfitters run fully guided hunts on a single piece of ground. Double D is different in three ways:
Competitors like Triple T Hunting, Prairie King Ranch, and NR Outfitters all run quality Nebraska turkey hunts, but none of them offer a two-state Merriam hunt. Double D’s combination of private ground access, semi-guided freedom, and two-state capability is unique.
Double D offers free pickup from Chadron, Nebraska, and round-trip transportation from Rapid City, South Dakota for $150 per person. The nearest major airport is Rapid City Regional (RAP). Most hunters fly into Rapid City, grab a rental car, or arrange the Double D shuttle. The ranch address is 6196 Timberline Road West, Rapid City, SD 57702.
Spring dates fill fast because Double D’s turkey hunts book out on word of mouth. Call (605) 877-2550, email doubledoutfitters@yahoo.com, or register and pay online to lock in your dates. Deposit and cancellation details are on the General Rates and Policies page.
See a decade of Merriam turkey harvests in the photo gallery and talk to past hunters on the references page.
