Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Bucks of Nebraska Podcast, we take a deep dive into one of the most important—and controversial—topics in hunting right now: proposed legislation in Iowa that could change deer hunting forever. From non-resident landowner tags to outfitter allocations and transferable permits, we break down what these bills mean and why they matter for hunters across the Midwest.

We unpack how these changes could shift Iowa from a world-class whitetail destination into a pay-to-play system, and what that means for everyday hunters trying to draw tags or gain access. The conversation goes beyond hunting too—touching on land ownership trends, habitat loss, farming practices, and the growing influence of outside investors.

We also talk about what hunters can actually do to push back, why staying informed matters, and how quickly things can change if people stay silent.

To wrap things up, we lighten it up with some spring fishing talk and what we’re looking forward to as the seasons change.

In this episode:

Breakdown of Iowa’s proposed hunting bills (HF22, HF388, SF255)
Non-resident landowner tag set-asides explained
Outfitter tag allocations and “pay-to-play” hunting concerns
Transferable landowner tags and commercialization of hunting
How these bills could impact tag draw odds and access
The role of non-resident land ownership in the Midwest
Why Iowa could lose its reputation as a top whitetail state
Public vs private resource debate in deer hunting
The impact of land leasing and rising costs for hunters
Habitat loss and modern farming practices
What hunters can do to oppose these bills
The importance of contacting legislators and getting involved
Broader discussion on conservation and the future of hunting
Spring fishing talk and upcoming outdoor plans

This episode is about awareness, action, and protecting the future of hunting before it’s too late.

Be sure to follow, subscribe, and share the Bucks of Nebraska Podcast, and stay tuned for more episodes.

🎯 Listen on all podcast platforms
🎥 Watch the full episode here on YouTube

Podcast Home: https://bucksofnebraska.com/podcast

Presented by: Outdoor Brand Company
👉 https://outdoorbrandcompany.com/podcast

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to follow the journey.

Disclaimer:
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of sponsors or partners. All hunting stories and tactics discussed are shared for educational and entertainment purposes. Always follow local, state, and federal hunting regulations and practice ethical, responsible hunting.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Bucks of Nebraska Podcast, we throw out the deep dives and go straight to the hot takes. Episode 10 is 20 rapid fire questions — the kind that start arguments at deer camp, blow up Facebook groups, and put your hunting buddies in uncomfortable positions. Cody, Matt, and Zach go round after round on topics from crossbows to cull bucks, and nobody's getting out clean.

We kick things off with a scenario that forces even the most anti-crossbow hunter to rethink everything — what if it's a world record whitetail and the only weapon in the stand is a crossbow? From there we get into Nebraska's deer harvest hitting an all-time low since 1993 and who's really to blame. Is it Game and Parks? Non-residents? Or the habitat loss happening on farm ground across the state? We also debate whether Nebraska should go to a one buck state, what to do with the landowner early rifle season tag, and whether food plots are fair chase or just baiting with extra steps.

The conversation gets real when we talk about who the best whitetail hunters in the country actually are — southern volume hunters or Midwest guys chasing mature deer on limited tags. We break down why thermals matter more than wind in hill country, whether you should ever shoot a doe during the rut, and what cell cameras are really doing to the sport. Plus, we tackle hunter shaming on social media, the crossbow-during-archery-season debate, and whether the next generation of Nebraska hunters is being priced out, pressured out, or regulated out entirely.

Are hunting lease networks and land brokers helping or hurting deer hunting? Spoiler: nobody held back on that one.

In this episode:

• 20 rapid fire hunting questions — no holding back
• Crossbow vs compound bow: the world record whitetail scenario
• Nebraska deer harvest at an all-time low since 1993 — who's to blame?
• Should Nebraska go to a one buck state?
• The landowner early rifle season tag controversy
• Food plots: fair chase or baiting with extra steps?
• Best whitetail hunters in the country — southern states vs Midwest
• Thermals vs wind and why thermals matter more than most hunters think
• Shooting does during the rut — dumbest move or herd management?
• Crossbow hunters during archery season — bow hunters or rifle hunters with short barrels?
• Cell cameras: scouting tool or killing the unknown?
• Non-resident turkey tags selling out in 90 minutes — is it a problem?
• Hunter shaming and posting kills on social media
• Are hunting lease brokers the worst thing to happen to deer hunting?
• Is the next generation of Nebraska hunters being priced out of the sport?
• Best week to hunt whitetails in Nebraska — late October vs early November
• The marginal shot debate — should you need to buy another tag?
• Passing bucks to let them grow — are hunters actually doing it?

Be sure to follow, subscribe, and share the Bucks of Nebraska Podcast, and stay tuned for more episodes.

🎯 Listen on all podcast platforms 🎥 Watch the full episode here on YouTube

Podcast Home: https://bucksofnebraska.com/podcast

Presented by: Outdoor Brand Company 👉 https://outdoorbrandcompany.com/podcast

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to follow the journey.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of sponsors or partners. All hunting stories and tactics discussed are shared for educational and entertainment purposes. Always follow local, state, and federal hunti

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of the Bucks of Nebraska Podcast, we celebrate two of Nebraska's biggest spring traditions — Sandhill Cranes and morel mushrooms. With up to 800,000 cranes flooding a 150-mile stretch of the Platte River every spring and morel season just kicking off, Cody, Matt, and Zach break down why these two things matter more than most Nebraskans realize.

We start with the Sandhill Cranes — an ancient species that's been migrating through Nebraska for millions of years. We talk about the $28 million economic impact crane season brings to the state, the 35,000 visitors who show up annually, and the big question every hunter eventually asks: why can't we hunt them here when Kansas, South Dakota, North Dakota, Texas, and Montana all have crane seasons? We dig into the economics, the politics, and whether a fall season could actually coexist with the spring tourism that keeps the money flowing.

Then we shift to morel mushrooms. The first confirmed find of 2026 dropped in Douglas County on April 2nd, and that means it's go time across the state. We share tips on where to look — river bottom timber, dying elms, cottonwoods, sandy soil — and the old-timer trick of watching for lilacs in full bloom as your trigger that morels are popping. We talk about the best way to combine turkey hunting, shed hunting, and mushroom hunting into one spring trip, the difference between true morels and false morels, and Cody's strong opinion that morels taste terrible.

This is a shorter episode built around two things every Nebraskan sees every spring but most of us don't think enough about.

In this episode:

• Sandhill Crane migration: 800,000 birds on the Platte River
• The $28 million economic impact of crane season in Nebraska
• 35,000 visitors annually for crane watching
• Why Nebraska is the only state in the corridor that doesn't allow crane hunting
• Could a fall crane season coexist with spring tourism revenue?
• Crane facts: two million years old, mate for life, 10,000-foot altitude, seven-foot wingspan
• The ag impact of cranes on Nebraska farmland
• First morel mushroom of 2026 confirmed April 2nd in Douglas County
• Where to find morels: river bottoms, cottonwoods, elms, ash trees
• Soil temps, moisture, and the lilac bloom trick for timing morel season
• True morels vs false morels — how to tell the difference
• Combining turkey hunting, shed hunting, and mushroom hunting in one spring trip
• Missouri River flood year and the massive morel haul along the dikes
• What morels sell for ($50+ per pound) and the Missouri mushroom market

Whether you're a crane watcher, a mushroom hunter, or just someone who loves getting outside in Nebraska's spring, this one's for you.

Be sure to follow, subscribe, and share the Bucks of Nebraska Podcast, and stay tuned for more episodes.

🎯 Listen on all podcast platforms 🎥 Watch the full episode here on YouTube

Podcast Home: https://bucksofnebraska.com/podcast

Presented by: Outdoor Brand Company 👉 https://outdoorbrandcompany.com/podcast

👍 Like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to follow the journey.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not necessarily reflect those of sponsors or partners. All hunting stories and tactics discussed are shared for educational and entertainment purposes. Always follow local, state, and federal hunting regulations and practice ethical, responsible hunting.

Support the show