Standing crops limit hunter success on pheasant opener

Hunters from around the country returned to rural Nebraska Oct. 28-29 to partake in a coveted outdoor tradition—the upland bird hunting season opener. 
    Overall, hunter success on the opening weekend was slightly lower than 2016, but hunter success for pheasants was highest in the southwest and northwest regions.
    Good quail numbers were also reported throughout the southern half of Nebraska but very few hunters were targeting bobwhites.
    On opening day, most areas experienced cooler morning temperatures in the teens and low-20s, which provided good hunting conditions for those afield.
    But, hunting activity declined Saturday afternoon as warmer conditions prevailed as temperatures reached the 70s Sunday.  
    Nebraska Game and Parks Commission staff and conservation officers made contact with 1,445 hunters.

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