Hunting in State Parks
Game and Parks offers limited hunting opportunities in its state parks, state recreation areas and state historical parks.
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offers limited hunting opportunities in its state parks, state recreation areas and state historical parks. Special regulations apply, and hunting access permits are often required. Trapping is authorized by special permit and only when depredation is occurring. A park entry permit is required for each vehicle entering state park, state recreation area or state historical park lands.
Application
A state park hunting application is required to hunt at Mahoney State Park, Platte River State Park and Schramm Park State Recreation Area and will be accepted from Oct. 1-31. Please mail applications to Mahoney State Park (address in application).
State parks that allow hunting
The following state parks allow a variety of hunting activities during the 2025 season in designated areas. Explore special regulations, including accepted hunting dates and equipment restrictions below.
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small & upland game | Concurrent with hunting seasons | Designated park lands west of HWY 26 and north of CR 44 | Per regulations & special requirements |
| Deer | Archery: concurrent with hunting season | Designated park lands west of HWY 26 and north of CR 44 | Per regulations & special requirements |
| Turkey | Archery: concurrent with hunting season | Designated park lands west of HWY 26 and north of CR 44 | Per regulations & special requirements |
| Waterfowl | Concurrent with hunting seasons | Designated park lands north of CR 44 | No permanent blinds; per regulations & special requirements |
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery only: Oct. 1-Nov. 15, 2025; Nov. 24-Dec. 31, 2025 | Select park zones to be designated | No permanent blinds; pre-registration required |
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Specialized archery & muzzleloader hunts on select dates from the first Monday after Thanksgiving to the end of late firearm season | Select park zones to be designated | Assigned zones |
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery only: Nov. 1-Dec. 31, 2025 | Select park zones to be designated | Pre-registration required at the Visitor Center |
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duck (Zone 4) | Nov. 1, 2025-close of season | Maze tract & backwater area | No permanent blinds |
| Light goose (statewide) | Nov. 1, 2025-close of season | Maze tract & backwater area | No permanent blinds |
| Dark goose (Platte River Unit) | Nov. 1, 2025-close of season | Maze tract & backwater area | No permanent blinds |
| Turkey | Archery only: Nov. 1-30, 2025 | Select park zones to be designated | |
| Deer | Archery: Nov. 1-Dec. 31, 2025 Firearm deer season: Nov. 16-24, 2025 | Select park zones to be designated | Eligible hunters possessing the proper permit may hunt with legal bow/arrow or crossbow only and must wear hunter orange. |
| Deer | Blue Southeast Antlerless Only Season Choice Deer: Jan. 1-15, 2026 | Select park zones to be designated | Use of centerfire rifles is prohibited. |
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery only: Dec. 1-Dec. 31, 2025 | Select park zones to be designated | Limited number of registered hunters per day |
| *Turkey & deer | Mentored youth hunts: concurrent with established seasons | Select park zones to be designated | *Will alternate deer & turkey mentored hunts annually (Spring turkey in 2026) |
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Specialized archery & muzzleloader hunts on select dates from the first Monday after Thanksgiving to the end of late firearm season | Select park zones to be designated | Assigned zones |
North river bottom
(Newton and Held tracts)
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waterfowl | Concurrent with 2025/2026 waterfowl seasons (including early teal) | North Bottom | No permanent blinds with exception of Agency-provided, first-come, first-serve blinds |
| Dove, rabbit & squirrel | Concurrent with 2025/2026 upland & small game seasons | North Bottom | |
| Pheasant & quail | Concurrent with 2025/2026 upland & small game seasons | North Bottom | |
| Pheasant & quail | Youth hunt: weekend prior to the pheasant/quail regular season | North Bottom | Upland game youth hunt |
| Turkey | Youth mentored spring turkey hunts only: select dates during spring turkey season | North Bottom | Youth mentored spring hunts |
| Turkey | Concurrent with archery & shotgun 2025 fall seasons | North Bottom | |
| Deer | Concurrent with archery, rifle & muzzleloader 2025 seasons | North Bottom |
South river bottom
(Schram tract)
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pheasant & quail | Youth hunt: Weekend prior to the pheasant/quail regular season | South Bottom | Upland game youth hunt |
| Waterfowl | Concurrent with 2025/2026 waterfowl seasons (Not including early teal) | South Bottom | No permanent blinds with exception of Agency-provided, first-come, first-serve blinds |
| Deer | Archery only: Sept. 2-Dec. 31, 2025 | South Bottom | |
| Turkey | Archery only: Nov. 1-30, 2025 | South Bottom |
Main park area
(Select park zones)
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery only: Nov. 1-Dec. 31, 2025 | Select park zones to be designated | |
| Turkey | Archery only: Nov. 1-30, 2025 | Select park zones to be designated | |
| *Deer & turkey | Mentored youth hunts: concurrent with established seasons | Select park zones | *Will alternate deer and turkey mentored hunts annually (Muzzleloader deer in Dec., 2025) |
Craig Oldsen Family Outdoor and Education Area
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Craig Oldsen Family Outdoor and Education Area | ||
| Turkey | Craig Oldsen Family Outdoor and Education Area |
| Species | Dates | Areas | Special Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | Archery: Dec. 1-Dec. 31, 2025 | Designated park area south of old railroad corridor | Walk-in access only |
| Deer | Blue Southeast AOSC: Jan. 1-15, 2026 | Designated park area south of old railroad corridor | Antlerless Only eligible hunters possessing the proper firearm permit may hunt with legal bow/arrow & crossbow only, and are required to wear hunter orange. Walk-in access only. |
Hunting at SRAs
To find out which Nebraska Game and Parks state recreation areas allow hunting, explore the Public Access Atlas.
Additional Public Hunting Lands
Nebraska also offers other locations to hunt, including Open Fields and Waters lands, wildlife management areas, federal lands and on conservation partner lands.
Related content
Hunting permits
Purchase hunting, big game and turkey permits, as well as supertags and combo lotteries.
Reservations
Reservations are accepted for cabins, lodge rooms, and group lodges up to one year in advance of the arrival date. Reservations for camping are accepted up to 180 days in advance of arrival date. Call the Reservation Call Center at 1-844-637-2757 (1-844-NEPARKS) or book online.