Make the most of Nebraska’s fur harvesting opportunities

Nebraska offers long seasons and abundant opportunities to harvest furbearers and coyotes throughout the state.

These animals are common in Nebraska, and most are found statewide. Regulated harvest of these mammals provides an excellent outdoor opportunity and is an important management tool for controlling populations to reduce problems they can cause people and property.

Hunting and trapping seasons typically are designed to allow furbearer harvest during the fall and winter, when the pelts are prime, and the animals are less likely to have dependent young. This gives hunters an opportunity to earn extra income, play a role in wildlife management and enjoy time outdoors.

Nebraska has three furbearers that may only be trapped – muskrats, beavers and river otters. Raccoons and opossums have an early hunting-only season. Those two species, along with bobcats, badgers, mink, long-tailed weasels, red fox, gray fox and striped skunks, also have seasons where they may be hunted or trapped.

Hunting and trapping are permitted statewide, except where closed by federal, state or local laws or regulations. Hunters and trappers must get permission before hunting or trapping on private land that is not part of a public access program.

River otters have a season bag limit of one for each harvester with no overall limit. For other furbearers, there is no bag limit for Nebraska residents. Nonresidents may harvest up to 1,000 furbearers, with an additional fee to harvest more.

For residents ages 16 and older, a fur harvest permit and habitat stamp are required to hunt or trap furbearers in Nebraska; no permit is needed for residents to harvest coyotes. Nonresidents need a nonresident small game permit to pursue coyotes, and a nonresident fur harvest permit and habitat stamp to harvest furbearers.

Residents may buy fur harvest permits at OutdoorNebraska.gov, but nonresident permits only may be purchased at Nebraska Game and Parks’ Lincoln office. Call 402-471-5457.

Find more information on furbearer hunting and trapping in the Nebraska Small Game and Waterfowl Guide. It is available wherever permits are sold or online at OutdoorNebraska.gov. Search for “Guides.”

The 2025-2026 Nebraska furbearer seasons are:

Trapping

Muskrat and beaver – Nov. 1, 2025-March 31, 2026

River otter – Nov. 1, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026

Hunting

Raccoon, Virginia opossum – Sept. 1-Oct. 31, 2025

Hunting and trapping

Badger, mink, long-tailed weasel, raccoon, Virginia opossum, red fox, gray fox – Nov. 1, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026

Bobcat – Dec. 1, 2025-Feb. 28, 2026

Striped skunk – year-round

Coyote – year-round