Hunters may enter lottery for deer hunting access on central Platte

Hunters may enter a lottery to gain deer hunting access to Platte River Recreation Access lands in the central Platte River Valley, according to the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Fifty-five hunters will be drawn randomly in early September and allowed to hunt deer on designated PRRA lands Nov. 16-24, 2024.

Applications, limited to one per person, will be accepted by mail or drop box at the Game and Parks south-central district office in Kearney through Aug. 31 at 5 p.m. Hunters can apply to hunt three areas but will only receive permission on one area if their name is drawn.

Lottery winners will be notified by Sept. 20. Hunters are required to obtain the appropriate deer permit and habitat stamp.

PRRA lands are closed to all access Oct. 9 to Nov. 15. More information and a map showing the available areas can be obtained at platteaccess.org, by calling 308-865-5338 or emailing ngpc.platteaccess@nebraska.gov.

PRRA lands are lands purchased by the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program for the restoration and maintenance of habitat for whooping cranes, least terns, and piping plovers in the central Platte River Valley. The PRRA program allows limited access to these properties when access will not disturb these species.

More information on the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program can be found at platteriverprogram.org/good-neighbors.