LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission adopted staff recommendations for 2017 big game hunting seasons at its meeting April 21 in Norfolk.
Among the big game changes to Commission orders:
— Twenty-six either-sex and 54 doe/fawn antelope permits were added in units in the southern Panhandle.
— Three cow elk permits were added in the Ash Creek Unit.
— Antlerless-only whitetail permits were reduced in several eastern units.
— Permits in southwest units were changed to increase mule deer doe harvest.
— Changes to permits in the Platte Mule Deer Conservation Area now allocate no more than 15 percent of permits to nonresidents.
— The River Antlerless Unit was expanded on the Elkhorn River and the South Fork of the Elkhorn River.
The 2017 big game season dates are:
— Deer: archery, Sept. 1-Dec. 31; firearm, Nov. 11-19; muzzleloader, Dec. 1-31; antlerless late season, Jan. 1-15, 2018
— Antelope: archery, Aug. 20-Dec. 31; muzzleloader, Sept. 16-Oct. 1; firearm, Oct. 14-29; doe/fawn late season, Nov. 1, 2017-Jan. 31, 2018
— Elk: archery bull, Sept. 15-Oct. 29; firearm bull, Sept. 30-Oct. 29; private land cow, Aug. 15-Oct. 29 and Dec. 1-31; public land cow, Sept. 30-Oct. 29 and Dec. 1-31
In addition to big game orders, the commissioners approved recommendations to:
— increase the cash change funds at some state park areas to support expanded activities, coinage requirements associated with showers, new gatehouses, and price change in park entry permits.
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