2016 Annual Report • Nebraska Game and Parks Commission 55
A C L O S E R L O O K A T P E R M I T S
It is not uncommon or unexpected for permit sales to fluctuate
from year to year. Some fluctuation is due to weather conditions that
influence individuals' desire to be outdoors,
some are influenced by individuals' perception
of wildlife populations and, thus, their likelihood
of success, plus a multitude of other personal
factors. This process in which an individual may
buy a permit from time to time but not necessarily
every year is called "churn." Here is a closer look at
some of Nebraska's permits and what factors may
influence their rise or decline in sales:
Big game permits – These comprise deer, antelope, turkey and
elk permits. The deer population has made a
dramatic comeback in most areas affected by the
2012 epizootic hemorrhagic disease outbreak
and we have seen a steady increase in both
hunter interest as well as biological ability to
increase quotas in many areas. Sales for 2016
have continued the upward trend surpassing
2012 levels. Elk permit sales continue to expand
with increasing herd sizes in most units. Antelope
permit numbers have also seen a slight increase.
Despite good population levels and mild
weather, spring turkey permit sales were down
slightly from 2015. Nebraska's $5 youth permits
(for deer, turkey and antelope) continue to be favorites and likely
contribute to growth in nonresident participation.
Hunting permits – These represent small
game and waterfowl hunters. Sales showed a
slight decrease over 2015. This can be reflective
of the apparent shift of deer/turkey becoming
more of the gateway to hunting for youth rather
than small game.
