Nebraska Deer

Our magazine, which is available in print and online, has everything in one location - application info, draw details and odds, fees, hunter requirements, point structure, age restrictions, youth information, weapon restrictions,  other tag opportunites, hunt planning, and much more. If you would like access to all of our research, join today!

Mule deer populations, especially in western units, have declined faster and steeper than expected, with fawn production and adult doe survival well below target rates. Brainworm has also been confirmed in several areas. The management strategy is to hold with current reduced mule deer permit quotas, limit hunters to one-to-one permits, and to keep some targeted antlerless tags in key depredation zones along river corridors. Nebraska is not overloaded with trophy mule deer bucks, but there have been many typical and non-typical Boone and Crockett entries over the years. Most mule deer typical entries come from Dundy, Grant, Sioux, and Hooker counties, and non-typical entries come from the Brown and Dundy counties. There isn’t a go-to area within the state for the biggest bucks.

The statewide whitetail buck permit is a good opportunity for those who have a great deal of open time this season. The statewide permit runs September 1-December 31 and is valid for the archery, muzzleloader, and November firearm seasons with a weapon legal for that time to harvest one whitetail buck. Permits are sold over-the-counter with 8,000 total permits being issued with a 1,200 non-resident quota. In 2024, only 321 permits were sold to non-residents before it sold out in November.

The statewide restricted buck permit is valid for any buck, except that mule deer bucks may NOT be harvested in the Mule Deer Conservation Area (Pine Ridge, Buffalo, Frenchman, Platte, and Republican units). In the past, this permit was for the firearm season only, but it is now valid for the archery, muzzleloader, and November firearm seasons with a weapon legal for that time to harvest one buck. 74% of the mule deer buck harvest with this permit occurs in the Sandhills, Plains, and Calamus West units.

The more expensive statewide buck permit, which is valid statewide in any unit for one either-sex species deer buck, will continue to be sold over-the-counter until sold out. There are only 300 non-resident permits available. In 2024, the non-resident quota sold out in 24 minutes on the sale day in July. Permit holders may hunt any open season with the dates respective weapon types.

Youth have two opportunities to get an unlimited statewide permit. The youth restricted deer permit is valid in all units except Frenchman, Platte, or Pine Ridge and is valid for one deer of either sex. The other permit youth can get is a statewide whitetail permit. Youth permit holders can purchase up to two $8 youth permits each season, but no more than one may be used for a buck. We advise that youth hunters must follow the open season with the dates and respective weapon types.