Permit & stamp requirements

Resident

• Antelope permit
• Habitat stamp*

*Residents who hold a 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit do not need to purchase a habitat stamp to hunt antelope. They must carry their 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit while hunting.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident youth under 16

• Antelope permit

Must be at least 12 years of age; see below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident

• Antelope permit
• Habitat stamp

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident youth under 16

• Antelope permit
• Habitat stamp

Must be at least 12 years of age; see below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident

• Deer permit
• Habitat Stamp*

*Residents who hold a 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit do not need to purchase a habitat stamp to hunt deer. They must carry their 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit while hunting.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident youth under 16

• Deer permit

Must be at least 10 years of age; see below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident

• Deer permit
• Habitat Stamp

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident youth under 16

• Deer permit
• Habitat Stamp

Must be at least 10 years of age; see below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident

• Elk permit
• Habitat stamp*

*Residents who hold a 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit do not need to purchase a habitat stamp to hunt elk. They must carry their 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit while hunting.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident youth under 16

• Elk permit

Must be at least 12 years of age; see below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident

Not eligible; only nonresident landowners with property in an elk management zone are eligible to apply.

Trap only: Muskrat, beaver
Hunt and Trap: badger, mink, bobcat, raccoon, Virginia opossum, striped skunk, long-tailed weasel, red fox or gray fox

Resident (hunt and trap)

• Fur Harvest permit
• Habitat Stamp*

*Residents who hold a 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit do not need to purchase a habitat stamp to hunt. They must carry their 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit while hunting.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident Youth under 16 (hunt and trap)

• No permit required

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident (hunt and trap)

• Fur Harvest permit
• Habitat stamp

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident youth (hunt and trap)

• Fur Harvest permit
• Habitat stamp

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Small game includes pheasant, quail, prairie grouse, partridge, dove, snipe, rail, woodcock, crow, squirrel, cottontail and jackrabbit.

Resident

• Hunt (small game) permit or Hunt/fish combo or Veteran Hunt permit or Senior Hunt/fish combo or Deployed military hunt/fish combo
• Habitat stamp*
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number required to hunt dove, snipe, rail, or woodcock.

*Residents who hold a 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit do not need to purchase a habitat stamp to hunt upland game. They must carry their 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit while hunting.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident youth under 16

• No permit, stamps, or HIP number required

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident

• Hunt (small game) permit or Hunt/fish combo or 2-day small game hunt
• Habitat stamp
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number required to hunt dove, snipe, rail, or woodcock.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident youth under 16

• Nonresident youth hunt permit
• Habitat stamp
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number required to hunt dove, snipe, rail, or woodcock.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Special considerations

• East Zone prairie grouse: Those hunting prairie grouse east of Highway 81 are required to obtain a special free grouse permit available at Game and Parks headquarters starting July 15. Requests also are accepted by phone at 402-471-5431, by email at [email protected], over the counter or by mail.
• Coyote, porcupine, prairie dog, and woodchuck hunting: Residents do not need a permit to hunt these species; but nonresidents must have a hunt (small game) permit. A Habitat Stamp is not required.

Resident

• Spring or fall turkey permit
• Habitat stamp*

*Residents who hold a 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit do not need to purchase a habitat stamp to hunt turkey. They must carry their 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit while hunting.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident youth under 16

• Spring or fall youth turkey permit

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident

• Spring or fall turkey permit
• Habitat stamp

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident youth under 16

• Spring or fall youth turkey permit
• Habitat stamp

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Additional information and resources for waterfowl hunters is available on the waterfowl hunting checklist page.

Resident

• Hunt (small game) permit or Hunt/fish combo or Veteran Hunt permit or Senior Hunt/fish combo or Deployed military hunt/fish combo
• Habitat stamp*
• Nebraska waterfowl stamp
• Federal duck stamp**
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number

*Residents who hold a 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit do not need to purchase a habitat stamp to hunt waterfowl. They must carry their 64-and-older veteran or 69-and-older senior permit while hunting.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Resident youth under 16

• No permit required
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number – residents under age 16 are exempt from HIP registration EXCEPT for those who select Tier II (any three ducks) in the new two-tier duck bag limit.

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident

• Hunt (small game) permit or Hunt/fish combo or 2-day small game hunt
• Habitat stamp
• Nebraska waterfowl stamp
• Federal duck stamp**
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

Nonresident youth under 16

• Nonresident youth hunt permit
• Habitat stamp
• Nebraska waterfowl stamp
• Harvest Information Program (HIP) registration number

See below for hunter education/accompaniment requirements.

**Federal Duck Stamp updates

The Federal Duck Stamp now is a legal electronic stamp; a customer no longer will have to produce a physical stamp. Customers who purchase an Electronic Federal Duck Stamp will be mailed a physical stamp from Amplex Corporation after March 10, 2027. The Federal Duck Stamp still will be available for purchase at the same sales channels as before (Game and Parks permitting offices, GoOutdoorsNE.com, and external vendors). Federal Duck Stamp purchases may be found under a customer’s profile in “View All Privileges” and may be reprinted at no charge.

Seniors

Residents age 69 and over who are legal residents of Nebraska are eligible for the Senior Annual Small Game Hunt/Fish/Fur Harvest Permit for $5. This permit must be renewed annually and is available for purchase at any of our offices or online.

Veterans/military

Veterans age 64 and older, deployed military and disabled veterans are eligible for special permits at reduced or no cost. For complete details, view the Veterans and Military Permits page.

Landowners

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. Landowners hunting antelope, deer, elk or turkey on limited landowner permits on their land do not need a Habitat Stamp. Landowners who wish to hunt big game on their property must fill out a landowner application. Visit the hunting seasons page for current applications.

Lifetime permits

Lifetime permits do not allow for the hunting of deer, antelope, elk, mountain lion, bighorn sheep or turkey, and do not include stamps.