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Where to Hunt
PRIVATE LANDS
It is the responsibility of every hunter to get permission to hunt, trail game or retrieve downed game on
private land, whether the boundary is posted or not, including railroad right-of-ways. Hunting without
permission may result in a fine of up to $500, three months in jail and the loss of hunting privileges for up to
three years.
PUBLIC LANDS
The Public Access Atlas lists more than 300 publicly owned areas. Refer to the atlas for area-specific
regulations. Unless otherwise posted, big game hunting is allowed on all wildlife management areas.
Hunting is allowed on most state recreation areas beginning the Tuesday following Labor Day, with hunting
prohibited within 100 yards of any public use facility or activity area.
Some areas have specific restrictions:
• Nebraska state parks, wayside areas, hatcheries, reserves, and state refuges are closed to hunting
unless otherwise posted.
• Use of ATVs and UTVs is not allowed on public lands unless specifically permitted by the managing
agency.
• Most national wildlife refuges managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and national forests and
grasslands managed by the U.S. Forest Service are open to hunting, unless otherwise posted.
OPEN FIELDS AND WATERS PROGRAM
The Open Fields and Waters Program has opened more than 380,000 acres of
private land to public walk-in hunting access across Nebraska. This voluntary
program offers financial incentives to landowners willing to allow public walk-in
access for hunting, trapping and/or fishing. For locations of participating tracts
of land, read the Nebraska Public Access Atlas (right). The atlas also lists
wildlife management areas and other public access properties. The printed atlas is
available wherever hunting and fishing permits are sold. It also may be viewed at
OutdoorNebraska.gov/publicaccessatlas.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE POTENTIAL CHANGES
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently is reviewing hunting and access regulations for National
Wildlife Refuges. Regulations may have changed since the publication of this Guide, please check with
those agencies for details.
TRAVEL ON U.S. FOREST SERVICE LAND
Visit fs.usda.gov/nebraska for information about traveling on U.S. Forest Service land in Nebraska. This
includes the Pine Ridge and Bessey Ranger Districts of Nebraska National Forest, McKelvie National Forest,
and Oglala National Grasslands.
HUNTING ON NATIONAL PARK SERVICE LAND
Visit nps.gov/mnrr/planyourvisit/hunting.htm for information about big game hunting on National Park
Service land in Nebraska.
MOUNTAIN LIONS ON CAMERA
Game and Parks would like anyone who captures a photo of a mountain lion to contact the nearest
agency district office or Sam Wilson, furbearer and carnivore program manager, at 402-471-5174 or sam.
wilson@nebraska.gov.
