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OutdoorNebraska.org | 13 Deer 2022 FORECAST 2022 will be a mixed bag for deer across the state. 2021 saw declines in both whitetail and mule deer harvest statewide. Hemorrhagic disease and drought affected deer in 2021, with drought persisting in 2022. However, the buck age structure remained at or near all-time highs in 2021; that should continue in 2022. SEASON DATES • Archery: Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2022 • Special Landowner: Nov. 5 – 7, 2022 • November Firearm: Nov. 12 – 20, 2022 • Muzzleloader: Dec. 1 – 31, 2022 • October River Antlerless Firearm: Oct. 1 – 15, 2022 • River Antlerless Late Firearm: Jan. 1 – 31, 2023 (River Antlerless permit only) • Antlerless Only Season Choice: Sept. 1, 2022 – Jan. 15, 2023 • Youth: Sept. 1, 2022 – Jan. 15, 2023 • Limited Landowner: Sept. 1, 2022 – Jan. 15, 2023 • Late Antlerless Only Firearm: Jan. 1 – 15, 2023 (Antlerless Only, Youth and Landowner permits, antlerless harvest ony) LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF DEER • Buck – A deer having at least one antler 6 inches or more in length. • Antlerless – A deer with no antlers or antlers less than 6 inches in length. PERMIT MAXIMUMS Individuals may only have two permits that allow the harvest of a buck per year. Beyond unit quotas, there is no individual limit to the number of antlerless permits. "SEASON CHOICE" EXPLAINED Many permits utilize a "season choice" format. These permits are valid for the entire season and the method of take is open to the legal method of the current open season, which includes Archery, November Firearm, Muzzleloader and may include Late Firearm Antlerless. Landowner, Youth, Statewide Whitetail Buck, Antlerless Only and River Antlerless permits all follow this format of allowing hunters their choice of weapon based on the open season. The Special Landowner Season is not considered an "open" season for permits of this format. Follow the season dates on the permit. PERMIT DRAWING • Frenchman MDCA and Platte MDCA permits are DRAW units and available during the application period. • The deer drawing is a preference point-based system, and those applicants who were unsuccessful are given a preference point toward future drawings. • In lieu of participating in the draw, hunters may purchase one deer preference point per year during the application period. • Permits are awarded to applicants with the highest number of points first until the permit quota is filled. • All points are lost once a permit is awarded during the drawing, whether first or second choice. • Draw statistics from previous years can be found at OutdoorNebraska.gov/drawresults. • Any forfeited permits may be made available to the next unsuccessful applicant(s), then may go on sale Aug. 1, 2022. NONRESIDENT EITHER-SEX/BUCK-ONLY PERMIT QUOTA Nonresidents will be limited to 15,000 either-sex or buck-only permits; landowner and youth permits are excluded. No more than 5,000 Archery and 2,000 Muzzleloader permits will be sold to nonresidents. WHEN IS THE FIREARM SEASON? Commission Order CO3.05 states that the Deer Firearm season is "nine (9) consecutive days beginning the Saturday closest to November 13."