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Mountain Lion Hunting

Our mountain lion management is focused on ensuring the species’ long-term sustainability, while allowing hunting opportunities when appropriate.

Information

SEASON UPDATES
Season 1 in the Pine Ridge and Niobrara Units ran from Jan. 2 to Jan. 10, when harvest limits were met. The 2024 mountain lion season is now closed.

Pine Ridge Unit: CLOSED
One male and one female were harvested on Jan. 9. One more female was harvested Jan. 10, meeting sublimit of 2 females and closing the season.


Niobrara Unit: CLOSED
The sublimit of 1 female harvest was met Jan. 7.

Mountain lions have recolonized three areas in Nebraska: the Pine Ridge, Niobrara River Valley and Wildcat Hills. To provide hunting opportunities, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission approved mountain lion hunting in the Pine Ridge area starting in 2014; it added a Niobrara Unit in 2024. Our mountain lion management is focused on ensuring the species’ long-term sustainability, while allowing hunting opportunities when appropriate.

The 2024 mountain lion season is Jan. 2-Feb. 29, 2024.

Hunters must check to make sure the season is still open each day before hunting by calling the 1-800 phone number provided on their permit or by checking announcements on this page.

If the harvest limit for either unit is not reached during Season 1, an Auxiliary Season will be March 16-31, 2024.

Information for permit holders

Limits

Pine Ridge limit is 4 with a female sublimit of 2. The season will end if either the limit or sublimit are met or the season end date is reached.

Niobrara limit is 2 with a female sublimit of 1. The season will end if either the limit or sublimit are met or the season end date is reached.

Regulations
  • Hunters must check the season is open prior to hunting each day by calling the 1-800 phone number on your permit.
  • A harvested mountain lion must be reported to Game and Parks within 8 hours of recovering the carcass. It must be checked in within 24 hours at the Pine Ridge Unit. Proof of gender must remain naturally attached until the animal is tagged by the Commission.
  • The bag limit for each permit is one mountain lion of either sex.
  • Shooting hours are sunrise to sunset.
  • Hunting with the aid of dogs is not allowed during Season 1.
  • Baiting and/or trapping is prohibited.
  • Collared or ear tagged mountain lions may be harvested.
  • It is illegal to harvest a mountain lion with a spotted coat, which are kittens, or a mountain lion accompanying another mountain lion – likely a family group.
  • If the harvest limit has not been met by the end of Season 1, an Auxiliary Season allowing the use of dogs will be held.
  • Unsuccessful permit holders from Season 1 may apply to convert their permit to an Auxiliary Season permit. Applications to convert permits must be received by the deadline specified.
  • A number of Auxiliary permits equal to the number of mountain lions remaining in the harvest limit for that sub-unit will be drawn. For example, 2 permits will be converted if 2 mountain lions remain in the harvest limit total at the end of Season 1.

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