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OutdoorNebraska.gov | 11 Deer 2025 FORECAST Deer populations and harvests have declined in recent years. Recent mule deer buck harvests are at 45-year lows and whitetail buck harvests are at 30-year lows. As a result, antlerless deer harvest has been reduced significantly and many buck permits have been limited. See permit tables. SEASON DATES Archery: Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2025 Special Landowner: Nov. 8 – 10, 2025 November Firearm: Nov. 15 – 23, 2025 (starts on Saturday closest to Nov. 13) Muzzleloader: Dec. 1 – 31, 2025 October River Antlerless Firearm: Oct. 1 – 15, 2025 Late Antlerless Only Firearm: Jan. 1 – 15, 2026 LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF DEER • Buck – A deer having at least one antler 6 inches or more in length. • Antlerless – A deer with no antlers or antlers less than 6 inches in length. PERMIT MAXIMUMS Individuals may only have two permits that allow the harvest of a buck per year. Beyond unit quotas, there is no individual limit to the number of antlerless permits. Individuals are allowed one unit permit that allows the harvest of a mule deer buck in each of these units: Buffalo, Calamus West, Frenchman, Loup West, Pine Ridge, Plains, Platte, Republican, Sandhills, Upper Platte. While they may not have two permits in any one of these units, they may have permits in different units and/or statewide permits. 'SEASON CHOICE' EXPLAINED Many permits use a "season choice" format. These are valid for the entire season and the method of take is open to the legal method of the current open season, which includes Archery, November Firearm, Muzzleloader and may include Late Antlerless Firearm. The Special Landowner Season is not considered an "open" season for permits of this format. Follow the season dates on the permit. PERMIT DRAWING • The deer drawing is a preference point-based system, and those applicants who are unsuccessful are given a preference point toward future drawings. • In lieu of participating in the draw, hunters may purchase one deer preference point per year during the application period. • Permits are awarded to applicants with the highest number of points first until the permit quota is filled. • All points are lost once a permit is awarded during the drawing, whether first or second choice. • Youth may apply for a draw unit permit at age 9 provided they are age 10 by the start of the season. DEER DRAW PERMITS Residents Platte Frenchman Nonresidents Sandhills Upper Platte Platte MDCA Republican MDCA Plains Buffalo MDCA Calamus West Loup West Pine Ridge MDCA Statewide Archery Frenchman MDCA Muzzleloader