OutdoorNebraska

20 Nebraskaland • December 2019 a winter refuge for pheasants Story and Photos by Gerry Steinauer othing beats hunting a frozen-over, snow-covered marsh for wily rooster pheasants in the dead of winter. At this time, pheasants are concentrated in the marshes' thick cover, and tracking birds in fresh snow is almost a guarantee for success. Wetlands occupy about 1.9 million acres in Nebraska, or about 4 percent of the state's area. Major complexes include the Rainwater Basin wetlands in south- central Nebraska, the expansive wet meadows and marshes of the Sandhills, the salt marshes around Lincoln and riverbottom marshes scattered throughout the state. Though limited in extent, wetlands provide critical winter cover and food for pheasants and other wildlife. In heavily-farmed regions, they provide much of the last remaining habitat on the landscape. Rainwater Basin Marsh Hunt On a late January afternoon last year, I met Bob Meduna at the Sacramento-Wilcox Wildlife Management Area to chase late- season roosters. Sac-Wilcox is located a hop, skip and a jump from Meduna's home in Phelps County. Though the Rainwater Basin marsh had been heavily hunted during the season, he promised me it still held birds. While still in the parking lot readying ourselves for the hunt, Meduna stepped close and said, "Now here's the rules. No talking except in whispers." He then explained the importance of stealth when pheasant hunting and how even the noise of a shutting car door or talking can send keen-eared pheasants running. Those are the birds that less cautious hunters would never see. After a pause in the conversation I asked, "What are the other rules?" "Don't miss," he responded. Meduna has been a wildlife biologist with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for 42 years and has worked at Sac-Wilcox and the Kearney offi ce the entire time. To call him an avid hunter is an understatement. The walls of his house are adorned with trophies from hunts in the western United States and Africa, many of the mounts and rugs prepared by his own hands. He pursues both big and small game in his home state with equal passion. Because neither Meduna nor I now owns a hunting dog, we had hoped for a few inches of snow cover to allow tracking of the birds. The previous day, however, was warm, and the snow had become patchy. Tracking would be challenging. With pheasants on our minds, we set off into the marsh zig-zagging among the stands of smartweeds, rushes and giant ragweed. Meduna moved slowly, head down, searching for tracks. When on a trail, however, his pace quickened, and he sometimes ventured off a few hundred yards in pursuit. Once, when our paths re-joined, he whispered one of his many pheasant hunting wisdoms: "You've got to trail birds fast. Sometimes I will even run. It wears them out and they N Marshes Bob Meduna on our hunt at the Sacramento-Wilcox Wildlife Management Area.

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