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WHO NEEDS A FISHING PERMIT?
By buying a fishing permit, anglers support Nebraska fisheries management, habitat protection and restoration
programs. A Nebraska permit is required of residents and nonresidents age 16 and over. Nonresidents under
age 16 need not have a fishing permit if they are accompanied by someone who has a Nebraska fishing
permit. A fishing permit is required to take, or attempt to take, fish, bullfrogs, snapping turtles, barred
salamanders, or mussels by any legal method. An angler must carry the fishing permit while actively fishing.
RESIDENT PERMITS
The requirements to qualify as a Nebraska resident to buy a fishing permit:
• Reside in Nebraska continuously for at least 30 days before making application for a permit and
intend to become a Nebraska resident.
• Residents in school in another state or stationed outside Nebraska as part of a military assignment
that have maintained Nebraska as their state of legal residency.
• Active-duty military personnel and full-time students stationed or attending school in Nebraska for a
period of at least 30 days.
• A new resident should be prepared to provide documentation of residency (driver's license, voter
registration, etc.) to an officer when in possession of a permit.
NONRESIDENT PERMITS
A nonresident fishing permit is required of all people who are not Nebraska residents, except those listed
above and those under 16 years of age who are accompanied by someone with a Nebraska fishing permit.
WHEN FISHING PERMIT IS NOT REQUIRED
Owners or their guests fishing on a private water body are not required to have a fishing permit if all of the
following apply to that water: 1) is located entirely on private land, 2) is entirely privately stocked, 3) does not
connect by inflow or outflow with any other water outside such land, and 4) is not operated on a commercial
basis for profit. In addition, any licensed commercial put-and-take operation is exempt from a fishing permit.
MOBILE PERMITS
Nebraska hunt (small game), fish, resident fur harvest permits, and associated stamps may be purchased,
accessed or displayed on a mobile device. The image of a mobile permit may be displayed and saved on a
device such as a phone or tablet. Visit OutdoorNebraska.org for more information.
FISHING PERMITS
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