One Blair hunter completed the 2023-24 Upland Slam challenge and won a prize for his efforts.
Nick Muller harvested a ring-necked pheasant, sharp-tailed grouse, greater prairie-chicken and a northern bobwhite quail in Nebraska to complete the Slam, which is contested in a partnership between the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever of Nebraska. In addition to the official certificate and pin he earned through the annual event, the hunter also won the drawing for a Quail Forever Solo stove.
“The sixth year of the Upland Slam gave 134 hunters, including three youth, a reason to take advantage of the state’s excellent opportunities and growing availability of publicly accessible land,” a Game and Parks release stated, noting how 75 hunters completed the challenge by harvesting one of all four birds.
“The Upland Slam has brought many new faces to the state and created an awareness to hunt a new species, such as grouse, for many Nebraska hunters,” said Kelsi Wehrman, the state coordinator for Nebraska Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “Congrats to all the finishers and their four-legged friends that helped make it happen.”
Like Muller, Tom Leininger of Aurora completed the Slam. The 61-year-old hunter, however, won the grand prize — a Franchi 12-gauge shotgun.
“The Franchi will definitely be used next year,” he said.
Another prize winner, Patrick Lechner of Syracuse, won a Pheasants Forever print.
Notably, Minden hunter Ross Oberg completed the Upland Slam in one day, harvesting his sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chicken on Open Fields and Waters land in the Sandhills. He then shot a pheasant and a quail on a wildlife management area after heading back toward home, according to the Game and Parks release.
Muller also completed the Upland Slam in 2022-23. Travis VanHouten of Blair did, too, while so did Jason Christiansen of Herman. Blair's Shannon Morrissey, Bryan Spilinek of Arlington, and Kurt Doyle and Keith Kendrick of Fort Calhoun, have completed past contests as well.
