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• Fires are allowed only in fireplaces, grills or fire rings, where provided by Game and Parks.
• Use of propane or gas stoves and charcoal grills is allowed.
• Motorized vehicles are restricted to roadways, parking areas or trails designated for such use.
• Target shooting is allowed unless otherwise prohibited.
State Recreation Areas
• Portions of some SRA lands are open to hunting from the Tuesday following Labor Day through the end
of the spring turkey hunting season.
• Hunting and trapping on SRAs is prohibited
within 100 yards of any public-use facility
or activity area, including picnic areas,
campgrounds, private cabins, concession areas,
boat ramps and parking lots.
• A park entry permit is required for each vehicle.
State Parks and State Historical Parks
• Some SP and SHP lands allow limited managed
hunting opportunities.
• Special regulations apply and hunting access
permits often are required.
• Parks with managed hunting have several
safety requirements in place, including
distancing requirements from campgrounds,
parking lots and other areas, hunter check-ins
and signs posted at designated hunting areas.
• Trapping is authorized by special permit and only when depredation is occurring.
• A park entry permit is required for each vehicle.
Other Publicly Accessible Lands:
Waterfowl Production Areas
• These federal lands are purchased with Federal Duck stamp revenue.
• They are open to public recreation, but camping is prohibited. Nontoxic shot is required and other
special regulations may apply; visit FWS.gov/Refuge/Rainwater_Basin_wmd.
U.S. Forest Service
• These are federally managed lands; special regulations may apply.
• Most national forests and grasslands managed by the U.S. Forest Service are open to hunting,
unless otherwise posted.
• The U.S. Forest Service restricts motorized travel on the Nebraska National Forest and Grassland
to designated roads or trails. Routes are designated "open" or "closed" for motorized travel.
Cross-country or off-road uses of motorized vehicles are prohibited, unless routes or areas are
designated open. Motor vehicle use for big game retrieval and dispersed camping is allowed
within 300 feet of most roads and trails that are designated open. Areas in Nebraska include
Bessey Ranger District near Halsey, McKelvie National Forest near Valentine, Pine Ridge Ranger
District near Chadron, and Oglala National Grasslands near Crawford. Refer to the Motor Vehicle
Use Maps issued by the U.S. Forest Service. They may be obtained at all Forest Service District
offices, by request at U.S. Forest Service, 125 N. Main St., Chadron, NE 69337, 308-432-0300 or
by visiting FS.USDA.gov/Nebraska.
National Wildlife Refuges and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• These are federally managed lands. Check with these agencies for special regulations that may
apply.
• In an effort to expand existing hunting opportunities, the USFWS listed new rules for NWR lands
during the fall of 2020. Visit the refuge websites for the most up-to-date information.
HUNTER SURVEY
At the end of each season, hunters are
asked to complete a survey that is used to
determine hunter success and total harvest.
Hunters who provide an email address at
the time they purchase their permits will
receive an email invitation to participate
in the survey. All other hunters also may
participate by going to OutdoorNebraska.
org/TurkeySurvey. It is important when
buying permits online that hunters update
their email address if it has changed since
they last purchased a permit. Survey results
are posted at OutdoorNebraska.org.
