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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.

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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.

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