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Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1499706
20 | Big Game Info: 402-471-0641 Elk 2023 FORECAST Elk populations have declined from recent highs, but numbers still are good across much of their range. They have expanded their range in recent years, as well. In response, management units have been restructured to help distribute permits and hunters appropriately. Units 1-7 align with areas of historic elk use and numbers; quality and permit success should remain similar to previous years. Units 8-14 include peripheral areas where elk use is less predictable; quality and success rates likely are to be lower. Unit 15, which has no permit quota, includes much of eastern Nebraska, where elk use is intermittent. Permits for Units 1-14 also are valid in Unit 15, to allow for hunter harvest of elk in eastern Nebraska. SEASON DATES • Bull Archery: Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2023 • Firearm: Sept. 21 – Oct. 31, 2023 • Antlerless: Aug. 1, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024 • Early Antlerless: Aug. 1 – Oct. 31, 2023 • Late Antlerless: Nov. 1, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024 • Public land closed to Antlerless Elk permits from Aug. 1 – Sept. 20, 2023 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. • Any forfeited permits may be made available to the next unsuccessful applicant(s), then may go on sale Aug. 9, 2023. 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. Scan the QR code to get more online elk hunting resources, including individual unit maps.