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Hunting seasons

With a diversity of species and generous seasons, hunters in Nebraska have tremendous opportunities afield. View season dates by species.

Big game seasons

View all season dates below or download the printable version.

  • Archery: Sept. 1 – Dec. 31, 2024
  • Special Landowner: Nov. 9 – 11, 2024
  • November firearm*: Nov. 16 – 24, 2024
  • Muzzleloader: Dec. 1 – 31, 2024
  • October River Antlerless Firearm: Oct. 1 – 15, 2024
  • River Antlerless Late Firearm: Jan. 1 – 15, 2025
  • Antlerless Only Season Choice: Sept. 1, 2024 – Jan. 15, 2025
  • Limited Landowner: Sept. 1, 2024 – Jan. 15, 2025
  • Late Antlerless Only Firearm: Jan. 1 – 15, 2025

* The 2024 firearm deer season will begin the third Saturday in November (Nov. 16), which is the Saturday closest to Nov. 13.

  • Archery: Aug. 20 – Dec. 31, 2024
  • Muzzleloader: Sept. 21 – Oct. 6, 2024
  • Firearm: Oct. 12 – 27, 2024
  • November late doe/fawn: Nov. 1, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025
  • Archery bull: Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2024
  • Firearm bull: Sept. 21 – Oct. 31, 2024
  • Early Antlerless: Aug. 1 – Oct. 31, 2024
  • Late Antlerless: Nov. 1, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025

2024 Season Dates: Dec. 3 – Dec. 22, 2024

  • Spring archery: March 25 – May 31, 2024
  • Spring youth shotgun: April 6 – May 31, 2024
  • Spring shotgun: April 13 – May 31, 2024
  • Fall youth archery and shotgun: Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, 2024
  • Fall archery and shotgun: Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, 2024

Reminders

  • 2024 nonresident turkey permits increased from $125 to $140.
  • 2024 nonresident landowner turkey permits increased from $62.50 to $70.
  • Hunters now may purchase up to two spring permits instead of three.
  • A hunter may harvest no more than one turkey per calendar day during the spring season.
  • All turkey harvests must be reported via Telecheck.

The 2024 mountain lion season took place from Jan. 2 to Feb. 29, 2024. This was the first season that the Niobrara Unit has been added, in addition to the Pine Ridge Unit. If the harvest had not been met for either unit during Season 1, an Auxiliary Season would have been held March 16-31, 2024.

Find application and draw dates by species on our Big Game Permit and Application page. Landowners can find permit application and draw dates on our Landowner Permit page.

Small game seasons

For additional information and other regulations, find the Small Game and Waterfowl Guide here.

  • Pheasant, quail and partridge: Oct. 26, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025
  • Prairie grouse: Sept. 1, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025
    • *special permit required east of U.S. 81
  • Youth pheasant, quail and partridge: Oct. 19 – 20, 2024
  • Dove (incudes mourning, white-winged, and Eurasian collared-doves): Sept. 1 – Oct. 30, 2024
  • Eurasian collared-dove (not including mourning and white-winged): Year-round
  • Snipe: Sept. 1 –Dec. 16, 2024
  • Rail (includes Virginia and sora rail): Sept. 1 – Nov. 9, 2024
  • Woodcock: Oct. 5 – Nov. 18, 2024
  • Crow: Oct. 12 – Dec. 12, 2024; Jan. 11 – March 13, 2025
  • Squirrel: Aug. 1, 2024 – Jan. 31, 2025
  • Cottontail: Sept. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
  • Jackrabbit: Sept. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
    • Allowed west of U.S. 81 only

Waterfowl seasons & daily bag limits

For additional information and other regulations, see the Waterfowl Guide on our guides page and view Nebraska waterfowl zones here.

  • North Central unit: Oct. 5, 2024 – Jan. 17, 2025
  • Platte River unit: Oct. 28, 2024 – Feb. 9, 2025
  • Niobrara unit: Oct. 28, 2024 – Feb. 9, 2025
  • Daily bag limit: 5; possession limit: 15
  • Statewide: Oct. 12 – Dec. 22, 2024; Jan. 25 – Feb. 9, 2025
  • Daily bag limit: 2; possession limit: 6
  • Statewide: Oct. 12, 2024 – Jan. 8, 2025; Jan. 25 – Feb. 9, 2025
  • Daily bag limit: 50; possession limit: none
  • East zone: Feb. 10 – April 15, 2025
  • West zone: Feb. 10 – April 5, 2025
  • Rainwater Basin zone: Feb. 10 – April 5, 2025
  • Daily bag & possession limits: none

*For special regulations see the Waterfowl Guide

  • Low plains: Sept. 1 – 16, 2024
  • High plains: Sept. 1 – 9, 2024
  • Daily bag limit: 6; possession limit: 18
  • Zone 1: Oct. 12 – Dec. 24, 2024
  • Zone 2: Oct. 5 – Dec. 17, 2024 (Low Plains); Oct. 5 – Dec. 17, 2024 and Jan. 8 – 29, 2025 (High Plains)
  • Zone 3: (High Plains) Oct. 26, 2024 – Jan. 7, 2025 and Jan. 8 – 29, 2025
  • Zone 4: Oct. 26, 2024 – Jan. 7, 2025
  • Daily bag
    • Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions;
    • Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex;
    • Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit
  • Zone 1: Oct. 5 – 6, 2024
  • Zone 2: Sept. 28 – 29, 2024
  • Zone 3: Oct. 19 – 20, 2024
  • Zone 4: Oct. 19 – 20, 2024
  • Daily bag
    • Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions;
    • Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex;
    • Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit
  • Zone 1: Oct. 5 – 6
  • Zone 2: Sept. 28 – 29
  • Zone 3: Oct. 19 – 20
  • Zone 4: Oct. 19 – 20
  • Daily Bag – Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions; Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex; possession limit – three times the daily bag limit
  • Concurrent with teal, youth and regular duck season dates, plus:
  • Zone 1: Feb. 25 – March 10, 2025
  • Zone 2:
    • Low Plains: Feb. 25 – March 10, 2025
    • High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone
  • Zone 3:
    • High Plains: Concurrent with all duck season dates in High Plains Zone
  • Zone 4: Feb. 25 – March 10, 2025

Furbearer seasons

  • Muskrat, beaver: Trap only: Nov. 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025
  • Badger: Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
  • Mink: Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
  • Bobcat:
    • Hunt and trap: Dec. 1 , 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
    • Running; no harvest: March 1 , 2024 – Nov. 30, 2024
  • Raccoon:
    • Hunt only: Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2024
    • Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
    • Running, no harvest: March 1, 2024 – Aug. 17, 2024
  • Virginia opossum:
    • Hunt only: Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2024
    • Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
    • Running, no harvest: March 1 – Aug. 17, 2024
  • Striped skunk: Hunt and trap: year-round
  • Long-tailed weasel: Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
  • Red fox:
    • Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
    • Running, no harvest: March 1, 2024 – Oct. 31, 2024
  • Gray fox: Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2024 – Feb. 28, 2025
  • River otter: Trap only: Nov. 1, 2024, though Feb. 28, 2025. Only one river otter may be harvested per season, per valid permit holder. Learn more.

Youth seasons

  • Spring youth shotgun: April 6 – May 31, 2024
  • Fall youth archery and shotgun: Oct. 1 – Nov. 30, 2024
  • Youth pheasant, quail and partridge: Oct. 19 – 20, 2024
  • Zone 1: Oct. 6 – 8, 2024
  • Zone 2: Sept. 28 – 29, 2024
  • Zone 3: Oct. 19 – 20, 2024
  • Zone 4: Oct. 19 – 20, 2024
  • Daily bag
    • Tier 1: six ducks, with restrictions;
    • Tier II: three ducks, any species, any sex;
    • Possession limit: Three times the daily bag limit

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