With a broad diversity of species and seasons, all hunters in Nebraska can have a busy year. Following is a comprehensive list of season dates and applications periods by species. Season dates are tentative, pending Commission approval. For detailed information about each season check out the annual hunting guides. Complete regulations and Commission orders can be found on the regulations page.
Big game seasons
Download printable season dates card
Deer
Season dates
Archery: Sept. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020
November firearm: Nov. 14, 2020 – Nov. 22, 2020
Muzzleloader: Dec. 1, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020
Antlerless Late Season: Jan. 1, 2021 – Jan. 15, 2021
Permit requirements
Deer hunters in Nebraska are required to have a Statewide or Unit Deer Permit and a Habitat stamp. (view big game guide for exceptions)
Deer permits are issued as Draw units or Buy units. Draw units are determined by overall demand and may be applied for during the draw unit application period. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission provides information on the previous year’s draw results. Buy units (over-the-counter permits) are issued on a first-come, first served basis. Additionally, youth permits are available to youth under the age of 16. (See the Big Game Guide for more on permits, unit names, species of deer and bag limits.)
Permit application dates
June 8, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – June 26, 2020
Resident and nonresident application period for draw units. Submit applications online or via mail.
Download the big game application
Download big game landowner application
Landowner additional land form
Permit sale dates
Aug. 3, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – close of season
Residents and nonresidents can purchase remaining permits on sale. (all units)
Download step-by-step instructions on the big game draw application and payment process:
How to apply for a big game draw permit PDF
How to pay for an awarded big game draw permit PDF
Deer regulations and restrictions:
Download 2020 summary deer regulations and check stations
Download 2020 mule deer conservation area restrictions
Download 2020 refuge and public land restrictions for statewide deer permits
Download Deer Species Information
DeSoto Bend NWR Deer Hunting Information
Boyer Chute NWR Deer Hunting Information
Gifford WMA Deer Hunting Draw Application
Firearm unit maps
Antlerless only season choice
Big Game Check-In (Telecheck)
The Nebraska Telecheck Program allows hunters to check deer or antelope by telephone or online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more and access Telecheck
Antelope
Season dates
Archery: Aug. 20, 2020 – Dec. 31, 2020
Muzzleloader: Sept. 19, 2020 – Oct. 4, 2020
Firearm: Oct. 10, 2020 – Oct. 25, 2020
November late doe/fawn: Nov. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021
Download 2020 summary antelope regulations
Permit application dates
June 8, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – June 26, 2020
Resident and nonresident application period for draw units. Submit applications online or via mail. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission provides information on the previous year’s draw results.
Download big game application
Download big game landowner application
Permit sale dates
Aug. 3, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – close of season
Residents and nonresidents can purchase remaining permits on sale. (all units)
Download step-by-step instructions on the big game draw application and payment process:
How-to apply for a big game draw permit PDF
How-to pay for an awarded big game draw permit PDF
Unit maps
Big Game Check-In (Telecheck)
The Nebraska Telecheck Program allows hunters to check deer or antelope by telephone or online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Learn more and access Telecheck
Elk
Season dates
Archery bull: Sept. 1, 2020 – Oct. 31, 2020
Firearm bull: Sept. 21, 2020 – Oct. 31, 2020
Antlerless Aug. 1, 2020 – Jan. 1, 2021
Download 2020 summary elk regulations
Permit application dates
May 18, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – June 5, 2020
Landowners application period for draw units. Submit Application
2020 Landowner Elk Zone Description
June 8, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – June 26, 2020
Residents application period for draw units. Application and application fee to be delivered to specific Commission district offices depending on unit. See Big Game Guide for additional information.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission provides information on the previous year’s draw results.
Permit sale dates
Aug. 3, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – close of season
Residents and nonresidents can purchase remaining permits on sale. (all units)
Unit maps
.
Bighorn sheep
Bighorn sheep lottery
This once-in-a-lifetime hunt includes up to four days of guide service from Nebraska Game and Parks staff and up to four nights of meal and lodging at Fort Robinson State Park. Proceeds from the lottery provide support for the management of this historic species in five areas of Nebraska’s panhandle region.
View 2019 bighorn sheep brochure
Season dates
Bighorn sheep: Dec. 1-22, 2020
Permit application dates (after 1:00pm CST)
April 20, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – Aug. 7, 2020
Residents can apply for the bighorn sheep lottery during this period.
Turkey
Season dates
Spring youth archery: March 25, 2020 – May 31, 2020
Spring archery: March 25, 2020 – May 31, 2020
Spring youth shotgun: April 11, 2020 – May 31, 2020
Spring shotgun: April 18, 2020 – May 31, 2020
Fall youth archery and shotgun: Sept. 15, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021
Fall archery and shotgun: Sept. 15, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021
Download spring 2020 turkey regulations
Permit application & sale dates
SPRING: Jan. 13, 2020 – May 31, 2020
Hunters may purchase as many as three spring permits.
FALL: Aug. 10, 2020 after 1:00 pm CST – Jan. 31, 2021
Hunters may purchase as many as two fall permits.
Download turkey application
Download turkey landowner application
Mountain lion
Season dates
The 2020 mountain lion season in the Pine Ridge runs from Jan. 2-Feb. 29, 2020, with an application period from Sept. 4-Sept. 27, 2019.
Mountain lions have recently recolonized three areas in Nebraska: the Pine Ridge, Niobrara River Valley and Wildcat Hills. Dispersing mountain lions have been documented throughout the state including agricultural areas where suitable habitat may be limited. In order to provide hunting opportunities for this species the Commission approved Nebraska’s inaugural mountain lion harvest season during 2014. A third season will be held in 2020. Click here to learn more about mountain lion hunting.
View 2020 mountain lion regulations
View Pine Ridge North Sub-unit map
View Pine Ridge South Sub-unit map
Multispecies lottery permits
Nebraska offers two big game multi species lotteries for resident and nonresident hunters. One permit in each lottery is awarded annually. The application period for the lotteries generally starts in January and ends in early July.
Learn more
Permit sale dates (after 1:00pm CST)
Super tag and combo applications: Jan. 2, 2020 – July 3, 2020
Upland game seasons
Small game seasons (anticipated)
Squirrel
Aug. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021
Cottontail and jackrabbit
Sept. 1, 2020 – Feb. 28, 2021
Webless migratory bird seasons (anticipated)
Snipe
Sept. 1, 2020 – Dec. 16, 2020
Virginia and sora rail
Sept. 1, 2020 – Nov. 9, 2020
Woodcock
Oct. 3, 2020 – Nov. 16, 2020
Crow
Oct. 15, 2020 – Dec. 15, 2020; Jan. 13, 2021 – March 14, 2021
Mourning, white-winged, and Eurasian Collared doves (in aggregate)
Sept 1., 2020 – Oct. 30, 2020
Eurasian collared-dove (only)
Year-Round
Upland bird seasons (anticipated)
Prairie Grouse
Sept. 1, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021
Pheasant, quail, and partridge
Oct. 31, 2020 – Jan. 31, 2021
Youth pheasant, quail and partridge
Oct. 24 – 25, 2020
For additional information and other regulations, view the Small Game and Waterfowl Guide
Waterfowl seasons
Waterfowl seasons
Dark goose
East unit: Oct. 28, 2019 – Feb. 9, 2020
North central unit: Oct. 5, 2019 – Jan. 17, 2020
Platte River unit: Oct. 28, 2019 – Feb. 9, 2020
Panhandle unit: Oct. 28, 2019 – Feb. 9, 2020
Niobrara unit: Oct. 28, 2019 – Feb. 9, 2020
Download dark goose units map
Light goose
Statewide: Oct. 5, 2019 – Dec. 25, 2019; Jan. 18, 2020 – Feb. 9, 2020
Download light goose conservation order zones map
Light goose conservation order*
East zone: Feb. 10, 2020 – April 15, 2020
Rainwater basin zone: Feb. 10, 2020 – April 5, 2020
West zone: Feb. 10, 2020 – April 5, 2020
Download light goose conservation order rainwater basin zone map
*For special regulations see the Waterfowl Guide on our guides page.
White-fronted goose
Statewide: Oct. 5, 2019 – Dec. 8, 2019; Jan. 18, 2020 – Feb. 9, 2020
Early teal
Low plains: Sept. 7, 2019 – Sept. 22, 2019
High plains: Sept. 7, 2019 – Sept. 15, 2019
Download teal zones map
Duck and coot
Zone 1: Oct. 12, 2019 – Dec. 24, 2019
Zone 2:
____Low plains: Oct. 5, 2019 – Dec. 17, 2019
____High plains: Oct. 5, 2019 – Dec. 17, 2019, Jan. 6 – Jan. 27, 2020
Zone 3:
____Low plains: Oct. 24, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020
____High plains: Oct. 24, 2019 – Jan. 5, 2020; Jan. 6 – Jan. 27, 2020
Zone 4: Oct. 5, 2019 – Dec. 17, 2019
Download duck zones – low plains detailed map
Download duck zones – high plains detailed map
Download duck – statewide zones map
Youth
Zone 1: Oct. 5, 2019 – Oct 6, 2019
Zone 2: Sept. 28, 2019 – Sept. 29, 2019
Zone 3: Oct. 19, 2019 – Oct. 20, 2019
Zone 4: Sept. 28, 2019 – Sept. 29, 2019
Furbearer seasons
Furbearer seasons
Muskrat, beaver
Trap only: Nov. 1– March 31
Badger
Hunt and trap: Nov. 1 – end of Feb.
Mink
Hunt and trap: Nov. 1 – end of Feb.
Bobcat
Hunt and trap: Dec. 1 – end of Feb.
Running, no harvest: March 1 – Nov. 30
Raccoon
Hunt only: Sept. 1, 2020 – Oct. 31, 2020
Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2020 – end of Feb., 2021
Running, no harvest: March 1, 2020 – Aug. 17, 2020
Virginia opossum
Hunt only: Sept. 1, 2020 – Oct. 31, 2020
Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2020 – end of Feb., 2021
Running, no harvest: March 1, 2020 – Aug. 17, 2020
Striped skunk
Hunt and trap: year-round
Long-tailed weasel
Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2020– end of Feb., 2021
Red fox
Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2020 – end of Feb., 2021
Running, no harvest: March 1, 2020 – Oct. 31, 2020
Gray fox
Hunt and trap: Nov. 1, 2020 – end of Feb., 2021
Permits are valid only for species-specific season, weapon and unit/area for which was issued.
Permits are not transferable, refundable and cannot be exchanged for another.
