Landowner permits

Qualifying landowners and immediate family are eligible to purchase one limited landowner deer permit that is valid for one any deer and one any antlerless deer per year.

Standard Landowner Deer permits are not valid for firearm during the Special Landowner Season dates.  They are valid for archery equipment during those dates.

Lands

• Resident qualifying landowners must own or lease at least 80 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose.
• No more than one permit can be issued per 80 acres of land owned. (E.g. 240 acres = maximum of 3 permits).
• Nonresident qualifying landowners must own at least 320 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose.
• Leased land does not qualify. No more than one permit can be issued per 320 acres.  (E.g. 960 acres = maximum of 3 permits).
• Permits are only valid on the land listed on their permit.
• Land leased for hunting or recreational purposes does not qualify for landowner permits.

Additional information

• A habitat stamp purchase is not required with a landowner permit.
• A small game hunt permit is not required to hunt deer.
• Hunter Education: Hunter Education is required of hunters ages 12 through 29. Hunters who have not completed hunter education may obtain an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate, if eligible.
• Youth permits do not include the special landowner permit season dates, a special landowner permit is to be purchased for the youth to be able to hunt.
• Hunters who harvest big game must immediately punch or notch the permit to indicate sex and date of harvest. The canceled permit must be attached to the animal or retained with the hunter if the carcass remains in the hunter’s possession. Deer harvested in the November Firearm Season must be taken to a check station no later than 1pm on the day following the season. Any deer harvested outside the November Firearm season must be checked within 48 hours of harvest and no later than 1pm on the day following the close of the season through Telecheck online or by calling the Telecheck number on your permit.
• Refer to the Big Game Guide for additional information.

Qualifying Landowners are eligible to purchase up to eight Special Landowner permits to be designated to the QL or members of their immediate family*. Permits are valid for the Saturday through Monday immediately preceding the November Firearm season.

Land

• Permits are valid only on the land owned or leased by the qualifying landowner and listed on the permit.
• Resident qualifying landowners must own or lease at least 80 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose. No more than one permit can be issued per 80 acres of land owned. (E.g. 240 acres = 3 permits).
• Nonresident qualifying landowners must own at least 320 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose. Leased land does not qualify. No more than one permit can be issued per 320 acres.  (E.g. 960 acres = 3 permits).
• Land leased for hunting or recreational purposes does not qualify for landowner permits.

Permits

• Limit of one special landowner permit per individual.
• Of the 8 permits per Qualifying Landowner:
  • No more than six special landowner permits may be issued to individuals between the age of 10 and 18.
  • No more than two special landowner permits may be issued to individuals 19 or older.
• Special Landowner permit bag limit counts towards the deer permit purchase limit of “two permits that allow the harvest of an antlered deer”. An antlered deer is defined as a deer with one antler at least 6 inches in length and an antlerless deer is defined as a deer with no antlers or antlers no more than 6 inches in length.
• Eligible individuals may purchase a landowner deer permit to hunt during the normal deer seasons in addition to the Special Landowner Season Deer Permit, but that would fulfill the “two permits that allow the harvest of an antlered deer” limit.

Cost

$8 per permit ($5 permit fee plus $3 issue fee). When applying via mail or in person at NGPC offices:  Payment must accompany application if all permits are to be issued.  The same individual may pay for all 8 permits at time of application.

Additional information

• A habitat stamp purchase is not required with a landowner permit.
• A small game hunt permit is not required to hunt big game.
• Hunter Education: Hunter Education is required of hunters ages 12 through 29. Hunters who have not completed hunter education may obtain an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate, if eligible.
• Youth permits do not include the special landowner permit season dates, a special landowner permit is to be purchased for the youth to be able to hunt.
• Hunters who harvest big game must immediately punch or notch the permit to indicate sex and date of harvest. The canceled permit must be attached to the animal or retained with the hunter if the carcass remains in the hunter’s possession. Deer harvested in the Special Landowner season must be checked within 48 hours of harvest and no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season through Telecheck online or by calling the Telecheck number on your permit.
• Refer to the Big Game Guide for additional information.

Qualifying Landowners and their immediate family are eligible for landowner elk during the late May and early June application period. Landowner elk permits have a set quota, are drawn based on a preference point system and are a set proportion of the allocation made available for the general drawing. 

Lands

• Resident qualifying landowners must own at least 320 acres or lease at least 640 acres of farm or ranch land in the landowner elk zone that is used for agricultural purposes.
• Nonresident qualifying landowners must own at least 1280 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purposes. Leased land does not qualify.
• Land leased for hunting or recreational purposes does not qualify for landowner permits.
• The maximum number of applicants allowed for one farm/ranch is determined by size of the property in total acres, divided by the minimum acreage requirement.
  • Example: Resident Elk LO – 640 acres owned / 320 acres = 2 LO applications allowed.
• Landowner elk permits are only valid for the entire management unit.
• Qualifying lands must fall within the landowner elk zones

Additional information

• Hunters may purchase a preference point in lieu of participating in the drawing if they wish to accumulate a point, but do not want to draw a permit this year.
• A habitat stamp purchase is not required with a landowner permit.
• A small game hunt permit is not required to hunt big game.
• Hunter Education is required of hunters ages 12 through 29. Hunters who have not completed hunter education may obtain an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate, if eligible.
• Youth permits do not include the special landowner permit season dates, a special landowner permit is to be purchased for the youth to be able to hunt.
• Hunters who harvest big game must immediately punch or notch the permit to indicate sex and date of harvest. The canceled permit must be attached to the animal or retained with the hunter if the carcass remains in the hunter’s possession. Elk harvested must be taken to a check station within 48 hours of harvest and no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season.
• Refer to the Big Game Guide for additional information, such as season dates and permit quotas.

A person who owns or leases at least 80 acres of agricultural land qualifies for an either-sex elk permit following the verification of 10 general permit holder or special depredation season antlerless elk harvests on that property. When the tenth harvest is recorded, a free permit will be issued, at no charge, to either the qualifying landowner or one of their immediate family members.

Immediate family includes spouse, child, stepchild, spouse of child or stepchild, grandchild, step-grandchild, spouse of grandchild or step-grandchild, sibling sharing ownership or spouse of sibling.

Additional information

• Landowners do not need to be Nebraska residents.
• The qualifying landowner or leaseholder must complete the general antlerless elk harvest form by the close of business Feb. 17, 2023, and drop off at a Game and Parks office in Alliance, North Platte or Bassett. Only harvests that occur during the most recent early- and late-antlerless seasons will be allowed on the form. Special depredation season antlerless harvests can be recorded within one month of the close of that season.
• Elk harvested under landowner permits do not count toward the 10 qualifying harvests.
• It is unlawful to falsely report antlerless elk harvests.
• The free-earned permit must be designated to a hunter on a form provided by Game and Parks, by March 31, 2023. Completed forms must be submitted to a local district Game and Parks office. Find a location.
• The free-earned permit is valid only on the property of the qualifying landowner or leaseholder.
• The free-earned permit will be designated for the next elk season following the tenth qualifying antlerless harvest.
• The free-earned permit does not affect eligibility for general or landowner permits.

The free-earned landowner elk permit was created during the 2021 Legislative Session. The goal is to increase hunting access and antlerless elk harvest, and increase elk hunting opportunity for landowners who regularly have elk on their property.

Qualifying Landowners and their immediate family are eligible to apply for landowner antelope permits during the June application period. Landowner antelope permits have a set quota and are a set proportion of the allocation made available for the general drawing. Allocation is 75% of the total in 2022.

Lands

• Permits are valid only on the land owned or leased by the qualifying landowner and listed on the permit.
• Resident qualifying landowners must own or lease at least 80 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose. No more than one permit can be issued per 80 acres of land owned. (E.g. 240 acres = 3 permits).
• Nonresident qualifying landowners must own at least 320 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose. Leased land does not qualify. No more than one permit can be issued per 320 acres.  (E.g. 960 acres = 3 permits).
• Land leased for hunting or recreational purposes does not qualify for landowner permits.

Additional information

• Hunters may purchase a preference point in lieu of participating in the drawing if they wish to accumulate a point, but do not want to draw a permit this year.
• A habitat stamp purchase is not required with a landowner permit.
• A small game hunt permit is not required to hunt big game.
• Hunter Education is required of hunters ages 12 through 29. Hunters who have not completed hunter education may obtain an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate, if eligible.
• Youth permits do not include the special landowner permit season dates, a special landowner permit is to be purchased for the youth to be able to hunt.
• Hunters who harvest big game must immediately punch or notch the permit to indicate sex and date of harvest. The canceled permit must be attached to the animal or retained with the hunter if the carcass remains in the hunter’s possession. Antelope harvested during the October firearm season must be taken to a check station within 48 hours of harvest and no later than 1 p.m. on the day following the close of the season. Antelope taken outside the October firearm season must be checked via Telecheck online or by telephone.
• Refer to the Big Game Guide for additional information.

Qualifying landowners and immediate family are eligible to purchase one limited landowner spring turkey permit that is valid for one male or bearded female turkey and one limited landowner fall turkey permit per year that is valid for two turkeys.

Lands

• Permits are valid only on the land owned or leased by the qualifying landowner and listed on the permit.
• Resident qualifying landowners must own or lease at least 80 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose. No more than one permit can be issued per 80 acres of land owned. (E.g. 240 acres = 3 permits).
• Nonresident qualifying landowners must own at least 320 acres of farm or ranch land used for agricultural purpose. Leased land does not qualify. No more than one permit can be issued per 320 acres.  (E.g. 960 acres = 3 permits).
• Land leased for hunting or recreational purposes does not qualify for landowner permits.

Additional information

• A habitat stamp purchase is not required with a landowner permit.
• A small game hunt permit is not required to hunt big game.
• Hunter Education is required of hunters ages 12 through 29. Hunters who have not completed hunter education may obtain an Apprentice Hunter Education Exemption Certificate, if eligible.
• TAGGING – Immediately after a turkey is taken, the hunter must punch or notch the permit tag showing the date the bird was taken. This automatically cancels the permit tag. This permit must be kept with the permit holder and/or turkey at all times. When the turkey is not with the permit holder, the entire permit must be attached to the turkey. The mobile turkey permit allows a hunter to cancel the permit once a turkey is harvested. If a hunter has a mobile permit, a turkey may be left unaccompanied by the hunter only if a document bearing the hunter’s name, permit number and time and date of permit cancellation is kept with the carcass.
• TURKEYS MUST BE CHECKED – It is required that all turkeys harvested in Nebraska be checked in online via Telecheck or by phone (number is printed on the turkey permit). Harvested turkeys must be checked in Nebraska and within 48 hours of harvest but no later that 1 p.m. on the day following the close of any portion of the season. Mobile permits must be canceled immediately after harvest.
• POSSESSION – Only the successful permit holder may possess all or part of a turkey. Anyone may receive as a gift any part of the turkey if a statement of such gift is available to inspect. The statement must include: hunter’s name, telephone number and permit number; species and quantity of each; donor’s signature; recipient’s name; and date of transfer.
• TRANSPORTATION – It is unlawful to possess any turkey unless the legs, thighs, and breast remain together until the bird is consumed or the bird arrives at the permanent residence of the possessor. The breast meat may be removed from the bone but must remain as two entire halves. Birds taken in the spring must have proof of sex consisting of: 1) the legs with spurs naturally attached; 2) the beard naturally attached to the breast; or 3) the detached beard with at least ¼-inch of skin remaining at the attachment site and kept together with the leg, thighs and breast.
• Refer to the Turkey Guide for additional information.

A farmer or rancher and immediate family who actually live on the land they own or lease may hunt squirrel, cottontail, jackrabbit (west of U.S. 81), prairie grouse (special permit required east of U.S. 81), partridge, pheasant and quail without obtaining a Nebraska hunt (small game) permit or Habitat Stamp. Hunting seasons and regulations still apply.