Overview
Known For
Nebraska is known for having huntable populations of a wide variety of game animals. From whitetail and mule deer to antelope, elk, bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and four sub-species of wild turkeys, Nebraska is a popular hunting destination.
Terrain
Nebraska’s terrain is defined by two major land regions: the Dissected Till Plains and the Great Plains. The Dissected Till Plains are comprised of gentle rolling hills. The Great Plains, which is mostly in western Nebraska, are characterized by treeless prairie expanses.
Nebraska Hunting Seasons
| Season | Start Date | End Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Antelope – Archery
|
Aug 20, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
|
Antelope – Muzzleloader
|
Sep 16, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
|
|
Antelope – Firearm
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Oct 29, 2023 |
|
|
Antelope – Late Firearm
Doe and fawn only.
|
Nov 1, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Bobcat – Hunting & Trapping
|
Dec 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
|
Coyote
Year round and no limit.
|
Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Archery
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – October River Antlerless
All federal and state public lands closed to River Antlerless permits.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Oct 15, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Special Landowner
|
Nov 4, 2023 | Nov 6, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – November Firearm
|
Nov 11, 2023 | Nov 19, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Muzzleloader
|
Dec 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
|
Deer – Late River Antlerless
|
Jan 1, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Deer – Late Firearm
Antlerless only.
|
Jan 1, 2024 | Jan 15, 2024 |
|
|
Dove – Eurasian Collared
Year round.
|
Jan 1, 2023 | Dec 31, 2023 |
|
|
Dove – Mourning & White-winged
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Oct 30, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Low Plains Early Teal
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 17, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – High Plains Early Teal
|
Sep 2, 2023 | Sep 10, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Youth Zone 2
|
Sep 30, 2023 | Oct 1, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Zone 2 (Low Plains & High Plains)
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Dec 19, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Youth Zone 1
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Oct 7, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Zone 1
|
Oct 14, 2023 | Dec 26, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Youth Zone 3
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Youth Zone 4
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
|
|
Duck – Zone 3
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Jan 9, 2024 |
|
|
Duck – Zone 4
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Jan 9, 2024 |
|
|
Duck – Zone 2 (High Plains)
|
Jan 10, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Duck – Zone 3
|
Jan 10, 2024 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Elk – Early Antlerless
Cow elk only.
|
Aug 1, 2023 | Oct 31, 2023 |
|
|
Elk – Archery Bull
Bull elk only.
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Oct 31, 2023 |
|
|
Elk – Firearm Bull
Bull elk only.
|
Sep 21, 2023 | Oct 31, 2023 |
|
|
Elk – Late Antlerless
Cow elk only.
|
Nov 1, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Fox – Red & Gray
Hunting and trapping.
|
Nov 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – North Central Dark Goose
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Jan 19, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – White-fronted Goose Part 1
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Dec 17, 2023 |
|
|
Goose – Light Goose Part 1
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Jan 3, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Platte River Dark Goose
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Feb 9, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Niobrara Dark Goose
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Feb 9, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – White-fronted Goose Part 2
|
Jan 25, 2024 | Feb 9, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Light Goose Part 2
|
Jan 25, 2024 | Feb 9, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – East Conservation Order
Light goose.
|
Feb 10, 2024 | Apr 15, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – West Conservation Order
Light goose.
|
Feb 10, 2024 | Apr 5, 2024 |
|
|
Goose – Rainwater Basin Conservation Order
Light goose.
|
Feb 10, 2024 | Apr 5, 2024 |
|
|
Prairie Grouse – East zone
Daily bag limit: 3. East of US Highway 81
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Prairie Grouse – West zone
Daily bag limit: 3. West of US highway 81
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Pheasant – Youth
pheasant, quail and partridge |
Oct 21, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
|
|
Pheasant – General
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Quail – Youth
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
|
|
Quail – General
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
|
|
Rabbit – Cottontail & Jackrabbit
|
Sep 1, 2023 | Feb 29, 2024 |
|
|
Bighorn Sheep – Any Weapon
|
Nov 28, 2023 | Dec 22, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring Youth Archery
Bag limit of 1 male or bearded female turkey per permit.
|
Mar 25, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring Archery
Bag limit of 1 male or bearded female turkey per permit.
|
Mar 25, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring shotgun
Bag limit of 1 male or bearded female turkey per permit.
|
Apr 16, 2022 | May 31, 2022 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring Youth Archery
Bag limit of 1 male or bearded female turkey per permit.
|
Mar 25, 2023 | May 31, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring Archery
Bag limit of 1 male or bearded female turkey per permit.
|
Mar 25, 2023 | May 31, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Spring Youth Shotgun
Bag limit of 1 male or bearded female turkey per permit.
|
Apr 8, 2023 | May 31, 2023 |
|
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Turkey – Spring shotgun
Bag limit of 1 male or bearded female turkey per permit.
|
Apr 15, 2023 | May 31, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Fall (Youth)
Archery or shotgun. Bag limit of 2 turkeys of either sex per permit.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
|
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Turkey – Fall
Archery or shotgun. Bag limit of 2 turkeys of either sex per permit.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Fall
Archery or shotgun. Bag limit of 2 turkeys of either sex per permit.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
|
|
Turkey – Fall (Youth)
Archery or shotgun. Bag limit of 2 turkeys of either sex per permit.
|
Oct 1, 2023 | Nov 30, 2023 |
|
|
Woodcock
|
Oct 7, 2023 | Nov 20, 2023 |
|
|
Partridge – Youth
|
Oct 21, 2023 | Oct 22, 2023 |
|
|
Partridge – General
|
Oct 28, 2023 | Jan 31, 2024 |
Nebraska Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
Nebraska hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s (NGPC) official website. Click below to view the website.
Hunting GPS Maps
Every Nebraska hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. Nebraska hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of wildlife management units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for Nebraska.
Wildlife Management Units
There are over 1.2 million acres of publicly accessible lands in Nebraska available for hunting, including state, federal, and conservation partner lands, as well as privately-owned lands enrolled in the Open Fields and Waters (OFW) program. Wildlife management areas in Nebraska are owned, leased, or managed by the NGPC for the enhancement of wildlife habitat and for public hunting. Click below to view Nebraska’s wildlife management units in more detail through an interactive map.
Hunting Layers
NE Private Lands
Over 890,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in Nebraska. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
NE Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate public lands maps with over 2,400,000 acres in Nebraska to help you plan your next adventure. Tap any public land parcel to learn more.
NE Possible Access
onX has mapped 69,000 acres of possible access lands in Nebraska including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
NE Hunt Units
Nebraska Hunt Units and Waterfowl Zones. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 12 Sublayers
- Antelope (Firearm) Units
- Antelope Muzzleloader Units
- Bighorn Sheep Units
- Deer (Firearm) Units
- Deer Antlerless Only Units
- Deer River Antlerless Units
- Elk Hunt Units
- Mountain Lion Units
- Waterfowl Dark Goose Units
- Waterfowl Duck Zones
- Waterfowl Teal Zones
- Waterfowl Light Goose Zones
NE Conservation Partner Lands
Nebraska Conservation Partner Lands. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
NE Open Fields and Waters
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Open Fields and Waters Program. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Not available for off-grid use.
Includes 2 Sublayers
- NE Open Fields and Waters
- NE Open Fields and Waters
The #1 GPS Hunting App
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- 10,668 unique hunting units
- 421 map overlays and counting
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