Access digital copies of guides and regulations publications from the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.
Issue link: https://digital.outdoornebraska.gov/i/1544968
OutdoorNebraska.gov | 5 Planning Your Hunt Big game in Nebraska is managed primarily 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. What species do you want to hunt? Nebraska has five big game species: white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope, elk and bighorn sheep. 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. 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. 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 37. 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 (page 10), hunter orange requirements (page 33), permit requirements (page 6), method-of-take restrictions (page 37) and mandatory check-in of all harvested big game animals (page 32) are covered in detail in this guide. WHEN CAN I APPLY FOR/BUY A 2026 PERMIT? Landowner Draw Permit Application Period May 18-29, 2026 General Draw Permit Application Period June 1-12, 2026 Resident Permit Purchase Period July 8, 2026 – Close of seasons Nonresident Permit Purchase Period July 22, 2026 – Close of seasons Remaining Permit Purchase Period Aug. 5, 2026 – Close of seasons