OutdoorNebraska.gov | 5
Planning Your Hunt
Big game in Nebraska primarily is managed through selective hunting harvest; species-specific
permits allow a harvest that often is limited to the sex of the animal within a given location.
Social and biological tolerances are the basis for permit allocations, and permits are issued
through the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's public process. See the following questions
and answers to help you understand Nebraska's big game permitting system and process.
What species do you want to hunt?
Nebraska has five big game species: white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope,
elk and bighorn sheep. This guide addresses seasons for them. Turkeys have
their own guide. See Turkey Guide details at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
Where do you want to hunt?
Each of Nebraska's big game species has specific
permits and management units with permit quotas and
specific regulations. Each species section has maps
detailing management units. Nebraska is 97% privately
owned and landowner permission is required to hunt on
private land. For details on public lands, see our Public
Access Atlas at OutdoorNebraska.gov.
When do you want to hunt?
Each permit has specific season dates, so take care to follow those dates. Some seasons are
long in duration and allow a lot of opportunity to be in the field, while others can last only a few
days to a week.
With which method would you like to hunt?
Each permit has specific methods (firearm, archery, muzzleloader)
allowed to be used for the take of an animal under that permit. Some
permits allow one method, some allow all. Each method has specific
minimums, and those details may be found in the table on page 38.
How are big game permits distributed?
Some permits are distributed in a drawing; some are available for purchase over the counter.
Some permit quotas are unlimited, but many quotas have limits. Once those limited permits sell
out, no more are available for the hunting season. There are personal limits to the numbers of
permits individual hunters may have per year:
• two deer permits that allow the harvest of a buck
• one elk permit
• one antelope permit
What are the other requirements?
Hunter education, blaze orange requirements, permit carrying, method-of-take restrictions and
mandatory check-in of all harvested big game animals are covered in detail in this guide.
