OutdoorNebraska.gov | 25
Antelope
2026 FORECAST
Antelope populations have declined the past few years and permit quotas have been reduced.
Antelope populations have declined across many parts of Nebraska due to drought and increased
harvest in recent years. Nonresident opportunity is restricted to statewide archery
permits, landowner permits and late doe/fawn, if available.
SEASON DATES
• Archery: Aug. 20 – Dec. 31, 2026
• Muzzleloader: Sept. 19 – Oct. 4, 2026
• Firearm: Oct. 10 – 25, 2026
• Late Doe/Fawn: Nov. 1, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027
PERMIT MAXIMUM
Each person is allowed one antelope permit per year.
LEGAL DESCRIPTION OF ANTELOPE
• Buck – Antelope with horns longer than its ears.
• Doe/Fawn – Antelope with no horns or with horns shorter than its ears.
PERMIT DRAWING
• Persons age 12 and older are eligible to apply for antelope permits.
• All either-sex rifle and muzzleloader antelope permits are DRAW permits and available during
the application period to residents, resident landowners and nonresident landowners.
• In lieu of participating in the draw, hunters may purchase one antelope preference point per
year during the application period.
• Any forfeited permits may be made available to the next unsuccessful applicant(s), then may
go on sale Aug. 5, 2026.
• The antelope drawing is a preference point-based system and those applicants that were
unsuccessful are given a preference point toward future drawings, with the exception the
nonresident landowners receive 0.9 preference points instead of 1.
• Permits are awarded to applicants with the highest number of points first until permit quota
is filled.
• All points are lost once a permit is awarded during the drawing, whether first or second
choice.
• Draw results from previous years can be found at OutdoorNebraska.gov (Search Draw
Results).
SPECIAL ACCESS PERMITS
See listings on page 30 to find public lands where access permits are required.
ANTELOPE DRAW PERMITS
All Landowner Permits
October Firearm Muzzleloader
General Permits
Residents Nonresidents
October Firearm Statewide Archery
Muzzleloader
