From deer hunters greeting the morning in their Pine Ridge tipi camp to turkey hunters calling toms from a Missouri River blind, Nebraska hunters can pursue a wide variety of big game in spectacular landscapes.

Important News. . . .
Purchase Big Game Permits Beginning June 9
Nebraska residents and nonresidents may begin purchasing any remaining deer, antelope or elk permits at 1 p.m. Central Standard Time on June 9. The permits will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis. They will be sold online at https://ngpc-permits.ne.gov/NGPC-PS/faces/public/welcome and at the following Nebraska Game and Parks Commission permitting offices: Ak-Sar-Ben Aquarium, Alliance, Bassett, Chadron State Park, Fort Robinson State Park, Kearney, Niobrara State Park, Norfolk, North Platte, Omaha, Lincoln, and Wildcat Hills State Recreation Area.

| Purchase and apply for permits |
{Please note: Adobe Acrobat is required to view and print permits.}

• Turkey
  No age limit. Those under age 12 must be accompanied by a person 19 years of age or older having a valid hunting permit.
• Antelope, Deer, Elk, Bighorn Sheep
  For antelope and elk, minimum age is 12. For deer, minimum age is 10. Those under 16 must be accompanied by a person 21 years of age or older who has a valid hunting permit. Those under the minimum age may apply for a permit only if they will reach the minimum age by the date the season opens.
• Resident
  A resident is a person who has resided in Nebraska continuously for 30 days or more, prior to making application for a permit, and who intends to become a resident of Nebraska. Military personnel and full-time students, stationed here or attending school in Nebraska for a period exceeding 30 days, are eligible to obtain a resident permit. A new resident should be prepared to provide documentation of residency (driver's license, voter registration, etc.) to an officer when in possession of a resident permit.
• Resident Landowner
  Nebraska residents who own or lease 80 acres or more of farm or ranch land and who are the operators on record for agricultural purposes may obtain landowner deer or antelope permits as outlined in the individual species information. These permits are restricted to the land owned/operated by them which is described in the permit application. Nebraska residents who own 320 acres, or lease and reside on no less than 320 acres, of farm or ranch land for agricultural purposes may apply for a landowner elk permit, providing they own/operate property which is in an area designated as an elk zone by the Game and Parks Commission. Eligible family members may hunt together on all portions of the same farm or ranch property. The maximum number of landowner permits allowed for one farm or ranch is determined by the size of the property in acres divided by 80 for deer and antelope or 320 for elk. For example, a farm of 240 acres could have a maximum of three landowner deer permits issued, but one person may hold no more than one permit per species. Members of the immediate family (husband, wife and their children) residing in the same household are eligible, but only one permit can be issued per person. Landowner elk permits may not be issued more than once every three years. Refer to the big game species section for specific landowner permit regulations.
• Nonresident
  Nonresident permits are available during specific open application periods. These periods are set when individual big game season regulations are set. Please refer to specific big game section for information on nonresident permits.
• Nonresident Landowner (Deer Permits Only)
  As of January 1, 2002, nonresident landowners may purchase deer permits. A nonresident of Nebraska who owns 320 acres or more of farm or ranch land in the State of Nebraska for agricultural purposes or a member of such person's immediate family residing in the same household. Only one limited deer permit per 320 acres may be issued annually. The cost of the permit is $87.50; no Habitat Stamp is required.

HOW TO APPLY

Application periods for antelope, deer, elk and bighorn sheep permits usually begin in April of each year. Application periods for spring turkey begin in January. Application periods for fall shotgun turkey permits usually begin in July each year.

Season dates are set in March for antelope, deer and elk, July for fall turkey, August for the following year's bighorn sheep season and October for spring turkey. Up-to-date information on application periods, instructions on how to apply for permits and season dates will be posted on this site as soon as it is available.

Most big game permits in Nebraska are issued in limited numbers for specific management units. In most cases, hunters must fill out an application and submit it by mail during a specific application period to qualify for a permit for high demand (Draw) units. Applications can also be made online. Some permits are available over the counter at District offices during certain application periods, but hunters purchasing these permits must still complete an application. A drawing is held when there are more applications than permits for "Draw" units.

The Nebraska Big Game Application form is needed for antelope, deer, elk, bighorn sheep and turkey permits. These forms can be downloaded from this web site as an Adobe^TM .PDF file.

SUBMIT BIG GAME APPLICATION AND FEES TO:

NEBRASKA BIG GAME PERMITS
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
P.O. Box 30370
Lincoln, NE 68503-0370

DOWNLOAD BROCHURES AND APPLICATION FORMS HERE!

PERMIT RESTRICTIONS

A permit is good only in the unit for which it is issued and may not be exchanged for a permit in another unit. Permits are not transferable or refundable. You must specify first choice and second choice, if applicable, for firearm units/areas. Make arrangements for a place to hunt BEFORE making application.

BUDDY APPLICATIONS

Two persons may submit applications together as buddy applicants. Both applications must be submitted in the same application envelope. If one applicant is ineligible, both will be excluded. One check is allowable on a buddy application.

HABITAT STAMP

A current Nebraska Habitat Stamp is required for all resident antelope, deer, elk, bighorn sheep and turkey hunters 16 years of age and older and for all nonresidents regardless of age. Only one stamp is necessary for all hunting in a calendar year. Those with fee-exempt permits and farmers and ranchers who hunt with a landowner permit on their own land are exempt from the Habitat Stamp Requirements.
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LEGAL WEAPONS FOR ANTELOPE and DEER

• Firearm Season:
  1. rifles that deliver at least 900 ft. lbs of energy at 100 yards;
  2. handguns that deliver at least 400 ft. lbs of energy at 50 yards;
  3. muzzleloading rifles .44 cal. or larger;
  4. muzzleloadering muskets .62 caliber or larger, firing a single slug;
  5. shotguns of 20 gauge or larger that fire a single slug;
  6. crossbows that have a draw weight of 125 pounds or more.
  7. Semi-automatic firearms capable or holding more than six cartridges are NOT allowed.

• Muzzleloader Season:
  As provided in (3) and (4) under firearm section above.

• Archery Season:
  Legal weapons include longbows or compound bows that have a pull of 40 pounds or more at or before 28-inch draw. Arrows must be released by hand, but mechanical arrow releases are allowed. Crossbows are permitted ONLY for those who are unable to draw a longbow due to loss of the use of an arm through amputation or permanent impairment. A required authorization will be issued by the Game and Parks Commission after written verification of the disability is received from the individuals physician.

• Firearm Season
  Shotgun only, 10 gauge or smaller. Shells containing shot size 2 to 7½ only. Slugs are illegal. It is unlawful to have a loaded shotgun (magazine included) in a vehicle while on a public road.

• Archery Season
  Longbow or compound bow having a pull of 40 pounds or more at or before 28-inch draw; arrows must have sharpened hunting head, with a blade of at least 7/16-inch radius and total cutting edge of at least 3 inches or a blunt (bludgeon) head with a diameter of at least 9/16 inch. It is unlawful to possess a firearm while hunting turkey under the authority of an archery permit, except that this shall not restrict carrying a firearm in the enclosed part of a vehicle.

• Baiting/Decoys/Calls
  It is unlawful to hunt turkeys with the aid of bait (placing grain or other feed to constitute a lure or enticement). It is also unlawful to use any live decoy or electronic call when hunting turkeys.

LEGAL WEAPONS FOR ELK AND BIGHORN SHEEP

1. rifles .26 cal. or larger, which fire a 100-grain or larger bullet delivering at least 2,000 ft. lbs of energy at 100 yards.
2. muzzleloading rifles, .50 caliber or larger.
3. conventional longbows or compound bows with a pull of 50 pounds or more at or before 28 inch draw.
4. Semi-automatic firearms capable of holding more than six cartridges are NOT allowed.

WEAPON SIGHTS

It is unlawful while hunting antelope, deer, elk, bighorn sheep or turkey, to have attached to a firearm or bow any device capable of utilizing electricity to amplify natural ambient light or to project a light beam or image to a target. This restriction allows "red dot" and illuminated reticle sights and scopes, but prohibits "night vision" scopes (both light amplification types and projected light types such as infrared) and all other sights that project light including laser lights.

It is unlawful to use any electronic device to amplify natural light or to project a light beam or image to a target, including "night vision" or infrared scopes and laser sights. "Red dot" and illuminated reticle sights and scopes are permitted. Magnifying and variable-power scopes are allowed on muzzleloaders.

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SHOOTING HOURS

Shooting hours are 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset for antelope, deer, elk and bighorn sheep, and 30 minutes before sunrise to sunset for turkey.

It is unlawful to take or attempt to take any turkey that is perched in a tree prior to sunrise.
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HUNTER ORANGE

Nebraska State Law requires hunters to wear at least 400 square inches of hunter orange on their head, back and chest AT ALL TIMES when hunting antelope, deer, elk or bighorn sheep during the firearm (rifle or muzzleloader) seasons. Camouflage hunter orange patterns are legal if the minimum square inch requirements are met. This is for your own safety, but failure to do so can result in a fine.
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