The Cornhusker State proudly hosts a variety of wildlife. Deer, turkey, waterfowl, and upland game birds are among the favorites. Whether you’re an expert marksman or just starting your hunting journey, thorough planning is crucial for a rewarding and secure season.

Next, we’ll dig into simple but important info for an exciting Nebraska pursuit in 2024. We’ll discuss important rules about hunting, dates to remember, and helpful resources for your hunt. Plus, we’ll explore best spots, helping you shape your adventure to your chosen location.

Game Schedule for Nebraska

Big Game Days

Deer

Archery: September 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Special Landowner: November 9, 2024 – November 11, 2024
November Firearm: November 16, 2024 – November 24, 2024
Muzzleloader: December 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024
October River Antlerless Firearm: October 1, 2024 – October 15, 2024
River Antlerless Late Firearm: January 1, 2025 – January 31, 2025
Antlerless Only: September 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025
Limited Landowner: September 1, 2024 – January 15, 2025
Late Antlerless Only Firearm: January 1, 2025 – January 15, 2025

Antelope

Archery: August 20, 2024 – December 31, 2024
Muzzleloader: September 21, 2024 – October 6, 2024
Firearm (Outdated – Dates for 2023): October 12, 2023 – October 27, 2023
November Late Doe/Fawn: November 1, 2024 – January 31, 2025

Elk

Archery Bull: September 1, 2024 – October 31, 2024
Firearm Bull: September 21, 2024 – October 31, 2024
Early Antlerless: August 1, 2024 – October 31, 2024
Late Antlerless: November 1, 2023 – January 31, 2025

Bighorn Sheep

December 3, 2024 – December 22, 2024

Mountain Lion

General: January 2 – February 29, 2024 (Pine Ridge, Niobrara)
Auxiliary: March 16 – March 31, 2024 (If harvest limit not reached)

Turkey

Spring Archery: March 25, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Spring Youth Shotgun: April 6, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Spring Shotgun: April 13, 2024 – May 31, 2024
Fall Youth Archery & Shotgun: October 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024
Fall Archery & Shotgun: October 1, 2024 – November 30, 2024

Small Game Days

Squirrel

Opens from August 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025.

Cottontail Rabbit

September 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025.

Jackrabbit

Allowed only west of U.S. 81, From September 1, 2024 to February 28, 2025.

Upland Birds

Pheasant & Partridge

Opens October 26, 2024 and runs through January 31, 2025.
A separate youth hunt is available on October 19-20, 2024.

Quail

Regular season mirrors Pheasant and Partridge, October 26, 2024 to January 31, 2025.
A designated youth hunt coincides with the Pheasant and Partridge youth opportunity.

Prairie Grouse

Spans from September 1, 2024 to January 31, 2025.
Note: A special permit is required east of U.S. 81.

Migratory Birds & Waterfowls

Doves

Mourning, White-winged, and Eurasian Collared-Doves (combined) can be hunted from September 1 to October 30, 2024.
Eurasian Collared-Doves are open game year-round.

Snipe

Starts September 1 and closes December 16, 2024.

Woodcock

Falls between October 5 and November 18, 2024.

Rails (Virginia and Sora)

From September 1 to November 9, 2024.

Crow

Crows is allowed in two segments:

October 12 – December 12, 2024 and
January 11 – March 13, 2025.

Goose

Dark Goose:
- North Central Zone: Oct 5, 2024 – Jan 17, 2025 (Daily 5, Possession: 15)
- Platte River Zone: Oct 28, 2024 – Feb 9, 2025 (Daily 5, Possession: 15)
- Niobrara Zone: Oct 28, 2024 – Feb 9, 2025 (Daily 5, Possession: 15)
White-Fronted Goose:
- Statewide: Oct 12 – Dec 22, 2024 (Limit: 2, Possession: 6)
- Statewide: Jan 25 – Feb 9, 2025 (Limit: 2, Possession: 6)
Light Goose:
- Statewide: Oct 12, 2024 – Jan 8, 2025 & Jan 25 – Feb 9, 2025 (Bag of 50, No Possession Limit)
Light Goose Conservation Order:
- East Zone: Feb 10 – Apr 15, 2025 (No Limit)
- West Zone & Rainwater Basin Zone: Feb 10 – Apr 5, 2025 (No Limit)

Teal

Low Plains: September 1 – 16 (Bag Limit: 6)
High Plains: September 1 – 9 (Bag Limit: 6)

Ducks & Coots

Zone 1: Oct 12 – Dec 24, 2024
- Tier 1: 6 ducks with restrictions
- Tier II: 3 ducks (any species, any sex)
- Possession Limit: 18 ducks
Zone 2 (High Plains): Oct 5 – Dec 17, 2024 & Jan 8 – Jan 29, 2025
Zone 3 (High Plains): Oct 26, 2024 – Jan 7, 2025 & Jan 8 – Jan 29, 2025
Zone 4: Oct 26, 2024 – Jan 7, 2025

Youth Duck & Coots

Follow specific Zone regulations and dates mentioned for Regular Duck & Coots.

Falconry

Coincides with Regular Duck, Youth, and Teal Dates (refer to specific dates for each).
Zone 1: Additional season – February 25 – March 10

Active-duty Military/Veteran

Follow specific Zone regulations and dates mentioned for Youth Duck & Coots.

Navigating the Regulations

General Regulations:

Permits: You need these to hunt, and there are special rules for young hunters. If you’re 10, you can hunt deer.
Habitat Stamp: If you’re 16 or older, live here, or just visiting and want to hunt big games, you need this.
Safety: Hunting from moving cars, using fake light, or telling others about your game using technology is not allowed. You need to ask before you hunt on private land.
Hunter Education: Some age groups are required to take this.
Drones: These are not allowed for hunting.
Ethical Take: Selling deer meat, using certain electronic gadgets, or hunting close to homes without asking is not okay. Hunter Orange: You have to wear this during certain seasons.

Deer Regulations:

Permitted Arms: The law allows the use of rifles, handguns, muzzleloaders, muskets, and shotguns that fulfill particular requirements for the firearms. Bows and spears can be used during the archery game.
Hunting Hours: Your game is authorized from half an hour prior to sunrise till half an hour past sunset. Bait Restrictions: It’s a rule, don’t hunt within a 200-yard radius of places where bait has been laid out.
Telechecking: If you’ve hunted a deer outside of November’s regular firearm, telecheck is mandated.
Tag Rules: Follow specific norms for tagging and having the deer you’ve hunted.
Limits: Be aware, in firearm period, there are restrictions on hunting other animals with some weapons.

Turkey Regulations:

Permit Count: Each hunter can have a maximum of two permits for the spring. We restrict non-residents to 10,000 spring permits.
Baiting Rules: It’s against the rules to set up baited areas on lands controlled by the Commission.
Gears: There are specific equipment rules for shotgun and archery.
Shooting Time: You can hunt from half an hour before sunrise until sunset in the spring.
Education Requirement: For hunters between 12-29 using firearms, hunter education is a must.
Tag Application: You must tag turkeys right after you hunt them and keep the tag with the bird.

Other Regulations:

Gray Wolves: They’re safeguarded by the Endangered Species Act.
Trapping: The traps need regular checking and immediate animal removal. On U.S. Forest Service lands, body-gripping traps have restrictions.
River Otter: The game stops in February or when the harvest quota has been hit.
Waterfowl: Specific areas require nontoxic shot for shotguns. There are also special rules for blinds, reporting leg bands, depredation, and game transportation.
Hunter Orange: Upgraded games recommend it but it’s not a requirement.
Methods of Take: Based on the game bird, the restrictions on firearms vary.

Unearthing Nebraska’s Top Hunting Locations

Nebraska’s varied terrain is a fortunate home for a wide range of game species. Let’s explore notable pursuing sites for each:

Pheasants: Public Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) are popular spot for pheasants, particularly Oak Ridge WMA in Knox County and Ponca State Park WMA in Dixon County are worth a visit.

Waterfowl: The Rainwater Basin is a favorite among waterfowl hunters. Its unique network of wetlands and lakes has features that are really special. Public areas like the Rainwater Basin Wildlife Management Area and Rowe Sanctuary are known for ducks, geese, and other waterfowl.

Deer: The Pine Ridge area in the northwest is quite a treat. Locations like the Fort Niobrara National Wildlife Refuge and the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest offer public hunting.

Antelope: The Nebraska Sandhills, with their boundless grasslands, are perfect for antelope. Sites like the Crescent Lake WMA and the Valentine State Fish Hatchery WMA offer public hunting in the Sandhills.

Elk: Elks are not plentiful, so a lottery permit is needed. The Pine Ridge area in the northwest is the top choice. Public hunting sites such as Soldier Creek Wilderness Area and Fort Robinson State Park are popular among tag winners.

You can get a detailed picture of the state location through the map guide provided by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Demystifying the Costs: Licenses and Permits

License/Permit	Resident Cost	Non-Resident Cost
Small Game License	$29	$100
Habitat Stamp (required for all small game licenses)	$10.50	$10.50
Waterfowl Stamp (required for waterfowl)	$15.50	$15.50
Fishing License (optional for hunters who also plan to fish)	$29	$100
Deer Permit (lottery system)	$36	$200+ (varies depending on deer type)
Antelope Permit (lottery system)	$80 (lottery permit)	$600+ (varies depending on antelope hunt unit)
Elk Permit (lottery system)	$80 (lottery permit)	$600+ (varies depending on elk hunt unit)
Turkey Permit	$21-36	$100-200+ (varies depending on turkey season)

Purchasing Licenses and Permits:

Getting Licenses and Permits: You can buy licenses and permits online. Use the Outdoor Nebraska website. Or, you can visit approved sellers throughout the state.

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Eric Hale

Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com

Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.

Navigate Your 2024 Nebraska Hunt: Essential Dates and Regulations