Home Hunt Game Mountain Lions

Mountain Lion Hunting

Our mountain lion management is focused on ensuring the species’ long-term sustainability, while allowing hunting opportunities when appropriate.

Mountain lions have recolonized three areas in Nebraska: the Pine Ridge, Niobrara River Valley and Wildcat Hills. To provide hunting opportunities, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved mountain lion hunting in the Pine Ridge area starting in 2014; it added a Niobrara Unit in 2024 and will begin the first season in the Wildcat Hills in 2025. Our mountain lion management is focused on ensuring the species’ long-term sustainability, while allowing hunting opportunities when appropriate.

During mountain lion hunting seasons, hunters must check to make sure the season is still open each day before hunting by calling the 1-800 phone number provided on their permit or by checking announcements on this page.

View Season Dates

Draw applications

Lottery applications will be accepted from 1 p.m. CT Nov. 4 through 5 p.m. (11:59 p.m. if applying online) Dec. 11. Applications can also be completed in person at any Nebraska Game and Parks office location or our permit staff can assist with completing applications over the phone at 402-471-0641. A $15 nonrefundable application fee must be submitted with each application.

Apply online

Regulations

Hunters must check the season is open prior to hunting each day by calling the 1-800 phone number on your permit.
A harvested mountain lion must be reported to Game and Parks within 8 hours of recovering the carcass. It must be checked in within 24 hours at the Pine Ridge Unit. Proof of gender must remain naturally attached until the animal is tagged by the Commission.
The bag limit for each permit is one mountain lion of either sex.
Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.
Hunting with the aid of dogs is not allowed during Season 1.
Baiting and/or trapping is prohibited.
Collared or ear tagged mountain lions may be harvested.
It is illegal to harvest a mountain lion with a spotted coat, which are kittens, or a mountain lion accompanying another mountain lion – likely a family group.
If the harvest limit has not been met by the end of Season 1, an Auxiliary Season allowing the use of dogs will be held.
Unsuccessful permit holders from Season 1 may apply to convert their permit to an Auxiliary Season permit. Applications to convert permits must be received by the deadline specified.
A number of Auxiliary permits equal to the number of mountain lions remaining in the harvest limit for that sub-unit will be drawn. For example, 2 permits will be converted if 2 mountain lions remain in the harvest limit total at the end of Season 1.