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22 | Big Game Info: 402-471-0641 Elk 2022 FORECAST While elk populations in recent years have been at all-time highs, permits and harvest have been increased accordingly to bring those populations to more desirable numbers. Success and quality of bulls in 2021 still were in line with historic numbers. Overall, 86% of bull hunters and 45% of cow hunters were successful in 2021, compared to historic rates of 78% and 46%, respectively. 2022 looks to be another good year to hunt elk in Nebraska. Nonresidents are not eligible for general elk permits. SEASON DATES • Bull Archery: Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2022 • Firearm: Sept. 21 – Oct. 31, 2022 • Antlerless: Aug. 1, 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023 • Early Antlerless: Aug. 1 – Oct. 31, 2022 • Late Antlerless: Nov. 1, 2022 – Jan. 31, 2023 • Public land closed to Antlerless Elk permits from Aug. 1 – Sept. 20, 2022 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF AN ELK • Bull – A male with antlers 6 inches or more in length. • Antlerless – No antlers or antlers less than 6 inches in length. PERMIT MAXIMUMS: • Individuals may only have one elk permit per year and may only submit one application per year. • General Cow: No more than one in five years. • General Bull: No more than one in five years; bull harvest limit of once in a lifetime. • Landowner Cow: One per year. • Landowner Bull: No more than one in three years. PERMIT DRAWING • General Bull permits are drawn based on a bonus-point system. Unsuccessful applicants are given a point, which is applied to future drawings. Applicants have an additional chance in the drawing for each point that they accumulate. Bonus points only are awarded for first-choice bull permits. • General Antlerless permits are drawn on a lottery system following the completion of the Bull permit drawing from the same application. Applicants have one chance in the antlerless drawing. • Landowner Bull permits are drawn on a preference point-based system. Unsuccessful applicants are given a point that is applied to future drawings; nonresident landowners receive 0.9 points instead of 1. Applicants with the most points are given preference in the drawing. • Landowner Antlerless permits are drawn on a lottery system following the completion of the Bull permit drawing from the same application. Applicants have one chance in the antlerless drawing. • All points are lost when a bull permit is issued from the drawing. • In lieu of participating in the draw, landowners may purchase one elk preference point per year during the application period, or general elk hunters may purchase one bonus point. • 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. 3, 2022. ELK AND PRIVATE LAND Most elk in Nebraska live on private land, and elk hunters should be prepared to gain access to private land to hunt elk. Landowner permission is always required to hunt on private land. SPECIAL ACCESS PERMITS See listings on page 33 to find public lands where access permits are required.