Nebraska Hunting Laws Licensing & Regulations

Nebraska game hunting

Nebraska has a plethora of animals and wildlife, making it an exciting state for hunting in the United States. The Department of Fish and Wildlife establishes the hunting seasons and bag restrictions for each species.

Hunting regulations in Nebraska

Nebraska hunters must follow all federal, state, and local hunting laws and restrictions. There may also be additional requirements for governments and private landowners.

The following are Nebraska hunting regulations:

Regulations for Hunting with Firearms:

The following are some of the Nebraska hunting restrictions affecting the possession and use of firearms:

Vehicle Possession of Hunting Firearms

Loaded guns in automobiles are illegal in Nebraska, regardless of whether they are hunting firearms or not. The state’s gun regulations allow only registered handguns and revolvers to be carried in cars.

Hunting with Rifles and Handguns

For hunting, Nebraska prohibits the use of rifles, revolvers, and handguns that fire.22 caliber or bigger ammunition. Furthermore, any form of rifle or pistol is illegal on state-leased hunting grounds or in regions where hunting permits are required. It is also unlawful to hunt waterfowl, turkeys, and any other migratory birds in the state using handguns or rifles. Crows, on the other hand, are exempt.

Using firearms for hunting

Shotguns that shoot more than two shots are not permitted for hunting on state-leased or owned land or in areas of the state where hunting permission is necessary. Shotguns are also illegal on private property.

Waterfowl hunting using a lead shot is prohibited. However, you can shoot waterfowl in the state using shotguns that are smaller than 10 gauges.

Shotguns used to hunt waterfowl and other migrating bird species in Nebraska must have no more than three shells: two for the magazine and one for the chamber. There are exceptions for Nebraska turkey hunting, Nebraska crow hunting, and Nebraska deer hunting.

Another exception to shotgun laws in Nebraska is that you can use unplugged shotguns during the September goose season. There may be extra regulations for the use of shotguns, depending on where you hunt.

Using muzzleloaders for hunting

Muzzleloaders are shotguns or rifles with a caliber of at least.45 that use gun powder and a bullet connected at the muzzle end of the firearm. It is permissible in Nebraska to use a shotgun converter, although smoothbore muzzleloaders are subject to the same restrictions as shotguns.

There is an exception for the use of muzzleloaders on state-owned territory, where it is permissible to use muzzleloading rifles with.36 calibers and round ball ammunition.

Regulations for Bow Hunting

The following are some of the Nebraska Bow Hunting Regulations:

Bowhunter Training

Before you can take wildlife and games with a bow and arrow, you must first complete a bowhunter education course. Nebraska requires all bowhunters to provide confirmation that they have completed the course while hunting small game.

Arrows and a Lawful Bow

In Nebraska, not all bows and arrows are permitted. In Nebraska, the bows allowed for turkey and deer hunting must be long, compound, recurved, and have a draw weight of at least 40 crossbows and pounds. Mechanical strings are also permitted; however, covering a projectile with chemicals, poison, or narcotics is prohibited.

Crossbows

Crossbows are legal for hunting a variety of game. The crossbow, on the other hand, should have a draw weight of at least 125 pounds. It must also have a fixed rifle and an effective automatic safety device.

The state also allows the use of adjustable crossbow sticks, but not adjustable folding stocks. The arrow must be at least 18 inches long, not including the broadhead length. When a crossbow has been pulled to its utmost and the bolt is in place, it is said to be loaded.

For deer and turkey hunting in Nebraska, the arrowhead must have at least two blades and be no more than eight inches wide. It makes no difference if an arrowhead is designed to open on impact; as long as it fits these specifications, it is permissible.

Possession of bowhunting firearms

It is illegal to carry a firearm while bow hunting in Nebraska.

Baggage Restrictions

The bag limit is another crucial restriction that hunters should be aware of. It contains the following items:

Baggage Limit per Day

This is the number of game species that a hunter can take in a single day, calculated as the hours between 12 a.m. and 12 a.m. the following day. It is illegal for a hunter to take more than the daily limit while hunting during these 24 hours.

Possession while in storage

This is a seasonal bag limit for the amount of non-migratory wildlife and game species that can be stored from the start of the season for a certain game. Excessive bag limits for a season are a breach of bag limit regulations. Federal hunting laws govern the possession of migratory game such as snipe, waterfowl, and coots within storage restrictions.

Season Bag Cap

This is the number of animals and games that can be taken during the open season.

Hunter Harassment Statute

Nebraska also has hunter harassment regulations in place to preserve the sport.

The legislation provides that no one should interfere with a legal hunting practice taking place in a wildlife area or anywhere else in the state.

Violations of this law occur when someone commits any of the following on purpose:

• Wildlife is driven in to disrupt hunting activities.
• prevents hunting by impeding or bothering a hunter while he or she is engaged in the activity.
• Artificial or olfactory stimuli are used to disrupt wildlife behavior patterns.
• Install barriers to prohibit or limit hunters’ actions.
• While attempting to shoot down a game, he enters a hunter’s line of fire.
• Disturb a publicly or privately held property used for authorized game hunting in the state.
• without the approval of people in control, impedes a private land section.

While hunting, open carry is permitted.

Open carry is permitted while hunting in Nebraska, although bow hunting is not permitted.

Furthermore, no one shall use a firearm to hunt animals, such as deer or antelope, while only holding an archery permit.

The following are the provisions of Nebraska’s hunter harassment law:

• Nobody is permitted to disrupt, pursue, or scare away games such as birds, wild animals, furry animals, or fish. This excludes animals lacking fur.
• Nobody shall obstruct a person engaged in a permitted hunting activity, such as fishing or trapping.
• Nobody shall willfully attempt to harm the ecosystem of a licensed hunting property.
• Nobody shall purposefully place themselves in a shooting line in order to obstruct or interfere with hunting.

Permits and tags for hunting in Nebraska

Nebraska hunting licenses, permits, and tags include the following:

Resident Hunting Permit

This license is only valid for state citizens, and the minimum age to obtain it is 16 years old. The license is required for taking mammals and birds in the state and costs $52.66.

Nebraska non-resident hunting license

This license allows nonresident hunters to take birds and mammals in Nebraska. The permit is only available to people over the age of 16, and it costs $183.60.

Junior Hunting Permit

Nebraska citizens and non-residents alike can obtain a junior hunting license. This license has a 16-year-old age limit and can be used to take mammals and birds. It is $14.04 in price.

Non-Resident Hunting License for One Day

This is a one-day non-resident permit valid in Nebraska. This permit allows holders to take migrating game boards into Nebraska. It is $25.10 in price.

Non-Resident Hunting License for Two Days

This license, like the one-day nonresident hunting license, is good for two days and can be used to take migratory game birds and small game. Although this license allows you to take some wildlife, some of them may require tags. It is $52.66.

Free Hunting License for Disabled Veterans

Residents and nonresidents who are honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability of 50% are eligible for this license. After qualifying for this license for the first time, veterans will be able to acquire it from any location in the country. The cost of this license varies. It costs $7.98 at the game commission offices and $8.38 from a licensed agent.

Reduced Free Hunting License for Recovering Serviced Members

This license is available to recuperating military members who are members of the United States armed services or national guard and are recovering from any treatment or sickness received while on duty. When you qualify for this license for the first time, you can acquire it anywhere in the United States. It costs $7.98 at the game commission offices and $8.38 from a licensed agent.

Hunting license duplicate

This is the $7.98 duplicate license sold to customers who have lost their original license.

Nebraska hunting licenses

The following hunting tags are available in Nebraska:

• Tags for Bears
• Elk Hunting
• Tag, Pronghorn Antelope
• Tag for Bighorn Sheep

Other than these marks, others are exclusively valid for drawing applications in Nebraska.

Permits and tags for fishing in Nebraska

Nebraska fishing licenses, permits, and tags include the following:

Sport Fishing License for Residents

Residents of Nebraska who are at least 16 years old can obtain this fishing license. It is $52.66.

Sport fishing license for non-residents

This is a Nebraska out-of-state fishing license for non-residents aged 16 and up. It is $142.02.

Sport Fishing License with a Reduced Fee for Disabled Veterans

This license is available to both residents and non-residents who are honorably discharged veterans with a 50% service-connected disability. After qualifying for this license for the first time, veterans will be able to acquire it from any location in the country. The cost of this license varies. It costs $7.98 at the game commission offices and $8.38 from a licensed agent.

Sport Fishing License with a Reduced Fee for Recovering Service Members

This fishing license is available to recuperating military members who are members of the United States armed services or national guard and are recovering from any treatment or illness received while on duty. When you qualify for this license for the first time, you can acquire it anywhere in the United States. It costs $7.98 at the game commission offices and $8.38 from a licensed agent.

Sport Fishing License at a Reduced Cost for Low-Income Earners

This permit is available to Nebraska residents who are low-income and over the age of 65. However, there are particular yearly income requirements to qualify for this fishing license. The price is $7.98.

Low-income Americans can get a free sport fishing license.

This license is accessible to anyone who is a US citizen and a Nebraska resident who is unable to afford the state sport fishing license. This license is completely free.

Disabled People Get a Free Sport Fishing License

Only people who are mobility-impaired, blind, or disabled are eligible for this fishing license. The license is completely free.

Sport Fishing License for One Day

This license is only good for one day. It is open to both state residents and non-residents. It is $17.02.

Sport Fishing License for Two Days

This fishing license permits both residents and non-residents of the state to fish for two days in a row. It is $26.49.

Sport Fishing License for Ten Days

This license is good for ten days in a row and costs $52.66.

Licenses to fish for life

In Nebraska, there are two types of lifetime fishing licenses.

The first is granted to citizens based on their age, with four age categories:

• Ages 0-9: $579.25
• Ages 10-39: $946.75
• Ages 40-61: $853.00
• $579.25 for those aged 62 and over

The Fishing Privilege Package, which costs $391.50, is the second life-long permit.

In Nebraska, some licenses are also provided based on the species of fish to be taken. These licenses are known as validation and report cards.

Hunting season in Nebraska

The hunting season in Nebraska varies depending on the game species and, more importantly, the sort of weaponry used to take them.

Nebraska’s shooting season for various wildlife in 2020–21 includes the following:

Deer Hunting Season in Nebraska

• General Season (August 10th to November 10th)
• Archery Season (July 11th to September 27th)

Hunting season in Nebraska

• Archery Season (August 15th to September 6th)

Season for hunting pronghorn in Nebraska

• General Season (August 8th to September 13th)
• Apprentice Hunting Season (August 22nd to August 30th)

Elk season in Nebraska

• General Season (July 25th to November 1st)

Elk hunting season in Nebraska typically runs from August to November, though this varies by location and zone. Elk hunting is no longer permitted in some regions because the military uses the property for training.

Season for hunting desert bighorn sheep in Nebraska

• General Season (August 15th to September 27th and December 5th to February 7th)

Bighorn hunting season in Nebraska typically runs from August to February, though this varies according to region and season. Because some regions of the state have very high altitudes, hunters will need to take extra measures.

Small Game Hunting Season in Nebraska

• Seasons for hunting tree squirrels
• Archery Season (August 1st to September 11th)
• General Season (September 12th to January 31st)
• Seasons for hunting rabbits and hares
• General Season (July 1st to January 31st)

It is crucial to note that different places within a zone may have different season start and end dates. Furthermore, the dates of a season may vary depending on the manner of taking games and wildlife.

Furthermore, restrictions and bag limits in Nebraska will change depending on the hunting season and the game taken.

Wildlife, Game, and Fish in Nebraska

Nebraska’s wildlife and games include the following:

Mountain Lion Hunting in Nebraska

Mountain lions are prevalent in Nebraska; their population is large, and they are one of the state’s most stable games. They’re also known as carefully protected fauna. Mountain lions live in Nebraska’s deserts and humid, wooded areas.

Bobcat hunting in Nebraska

Bobcats are frequent predators in northern North America. They are larger than regular house cats and about twice their size.

Coyote hunting in Nebraska

Another common predator in Nebraska is the coyote. Except in big metropolitan areas, they can be found practically everywhere in the state.

Hunting for foxes in Nebraska

The red fox is the most common fox in Nebraska. They are widely distributed throughout the state and other northern portions of America. Foxes are extremely intelligent and tough games for hunters.

Hunting for the Nebraska Wolves

Wolves were once extinct in Nebraska, but in recent years, they have returned due to human dispersal from other states in the United States. The most frequent species in the state are gray wolves.

Hunting for black bears in Nebraska

Today, there are approximately 40,000 black bears in Nebraska, with two species common in the state: the northwestern black bear and the Nebraska black bear. Bear hunting is permitted in some Nebraska national parks. The Sequoia and Yosemite National Parks are two examples.

Hunting for deer in Nebraska

Mule deer are native to northern North America, including Nebraska. These deer acquire their name from their ears, which resemble those of mules.

Hunting for elk in Nebraska

Elks are one of the most massive deer species in North America and Nebraska. They are also an excellent hunting option because they are one of the state’s largest mammals.

Bighorn Sheep Hunting in Nebraska

Nebraska has several populations of bighorn sheep, which live on the state’s snowy peaks and desert plains. The desert bighorn and Sierra Nevada bighorn sheep are the two most prevalent species of bighorn sheep in the state.

Waterfowl hunting in Nebraska

A permit is required to hunt waterfowl in Nebraska. A permit of this type is issued through a random lottery.

Rabbit hunting in Nebraska

Rabbits and hares are among the most popular small game species in Nebraska. Rabbit hunting is regulated by the board, with a bag limit of 5 animals and a possession limit of 10 animals.

Shooting ranges in Nebraska

The following are some of the shooting ranges in Nebraska:

• Blackpowder Club/Range Camp Clarke Raiders
• Valley Trap Range, Fremont, Izaak Walton Gun Club
• Trap and Skeet Range Harry A. Koch
• Park for Public Shooting in the Heartland
• Jefferson County Sportsmen’s Association
• Sporting Clays Sumac
• The Eustis Gun Club

Hunting Land in Nebraska for Sale and Lease

Nebraska hunting lands for sale include the following:

• 182 acres in Kearney, Nebraska (Buffalo County).
• 2,270 acres in Harrisburg, Nebraska (Banner County).
• 26.37 acres in Elyria, Nebraska (Valley County)
• Crawford, Nebraska (Sioux County), consists of 1,789 acres.
• 128.51 acres in Long Pine, Nebraska (Brown County).

Nebraska hunting lands for lease include:

• 80-acre archery whitetail lease in Norfolk County
• Birds and Beast Whitetail Hunts leases 600 acres in Niobrara County for whitetail and turkey hunting.
• 988-acre whitetail lease in Norfolk County, Nebraska, with huge bucks and an expanding deer population.
• Otoe County Hunt Club offers waterfowl lease memberships on 300 acres.
• 300 acres of duck, pheasant, and deer acreage are near the Missouri River in Honey Creek County.