Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: http://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1499706
24 | Big Game Info: 402-471-0641 Antelope 2023 FORECAST Antelope populations have declined the past two years and there have been reductions in permit quotas for 2023. Antelope populations have declined across many parts of Nebraska due to drought and increased harvest in recent years. Research in western Nebraska showed hemorrhagic disease and drought in 2021 affected antelope survival and distribution. For 2023, permits were decreased in several units to account for decreased populations and harvest success in 2022. Nonresident opportunity is restricted to statewide archery permits, landowner permits and late doe/fawn, if available. SEASON DATES: • Archery: Aug. 20 – Dec. 31, 2023 • Muzzleloader: Sept. 16 – Oct. 1, 2023 • Firearm: Oct. 14 – 29, 2023 • Late Doe/Fawn: Nov. 1, 2023 – Jan. 31, 2024 PERMIT MAXIMUM Each person is allowed one antelope permit per year. LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF ANTELOPE • Buck – Antelope with horns longer than its ears. • Doe/Fawn – Antelope with no horns or with horns shorter than its ears. PERMIT DRAWING: • Persons age 12 and older are eligible to apply for antelope permits. • All either sex rifle and muzzleloader antelope permits are DRAW permits and available during the application period to residents, resident landowners and nonresident landowners. • Archery Antelope is a DRAW permit for nonresidents. • In lieu of participating in the draw, hunters may purchase one antelope preference point per year during the application period. • Any forfeited permits may be made available to the next unsuccessful applicant(s), then may go on sale Aug. 8, 2023. • The antelope drawing is a preference point-based system and those applicants that were unsuccessful are given a preference point toward future drawings, with the exception the nonresident landowners receive 0.9 preference points instead of 1. • Permits are awarded to applicants with the highest number of points first until permit quota is filled. • All points are lost once a permit is awarded during the drawing, whether first or second choice. • Draw results from previous years can be found at OutdoorNebraska.gov. SPECIAL ACCESS PERMITS See listings on page 30 to find public lands where access permits are required. Scan the QR code to get more online antelope hunting resources, including information on application dates.