Big game permits & applications
Find all big game permit information and application dates below. The application and purchasing process for deer, elk and antelope permits occurs during four purchasing periods. Notably, general applications will begin a week earlier than in past years in 2024.
Things to note
- All permits go on sale at 10 a.m. CT on their release date.
- Permits will be available through the close of the hunting season OR until the quota sells out.
- All permit purchases can may be made online, in person at a Game and Parks office, or via mail: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE, 68503.
- Mail applications must be received by 5 p.m. CT and internet applications by 11:59 p.m. CT on the final day of the application period.
- Nonrefundable permit application fees are: Deer, $7; Antelope, $6; Elk, $10.
Landowner permits
Nebraska offers many hunting opportunities to qualifying landowners and their immediate family. Landowner permit application dates can be found in the tabs below. Landowner season dates, pricing and applications are located on the Landowner Permits page.
Big game permits & applications
Permits are valid only for species-specific season, weapon and unit/area for which was issued. Permits are not transferable, refundable and cannot be exchanged for another. Read the Big Game Guide for more information about season dates, regulations, permit requirements, applications and more.
Deer permits are issued as Draw units or Buy units (over-the-counter permits). Draw units are determined by overall demand and may be applied for during the draw unit application period. Buy units are issued on a first-come, first served basis. Additionally, youth permits are available to youth under the age of 16.
Draw permit application dates
June 3-14, 2024
- Residents may purchase a preference point or apply for one of the following deer permits: Platte Any Deer and Frenchman Any Deer.
- Nonresidents may purchase a preference point or apply for one deer permit in the following: Sandhills Any Deer, Upper Platte Any Deer, Plains Any Deer, Calamus West Any Deer, Pine Ridge MDCA, Frenchman MDCA, Platte MDCA, Republican MDCA, Buffalo MDCA, Loup West Any Deer, Archery Deer and Muzzleloader Deer.
Previous draw results & harvest reports
Nebraska Game and Parks provides information on previous years’ draw results, previous harvest results and season structure.
Resident & resident landowner permit sale dates
July 10, 2024 – close of seasons
- Residents may buy deer permits within permit limits.
- Eligible resident landowners may buy any limited landowner deer permits.
Nonresident permit sale dates
July 24, 2024 – close of seasons
- Nonresidents may buy any limited deer permits in any unit subject to availability and within permit limits.
Remaining permit sale dates
Aug. 7, 2024 – close of seasons
- Any remaining permits from the previous periods may be purchased in any unit subject to availability and within permit limits. Eligible landowners may buy any remaining limited landowner permits.
Gifford Point WMA Special Access Permit application period
Aug. 1-15, 2024
Applications for special hunt participation at Gifford Point WMA will be accepted via online application or at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission offices in Lincoln (402-471-5431) or Omaha (402-595-2144).
Landowner application period
May 20-31, 2024
- Eligible resident and nonresident landowners may purchase a preference point or apply for one antelope permit in the following: Banner North, Banner South, Box Butte East, Box Butte West, Cherry, Cheyenne, Dismal, Eastern Sandhills, Garden, North Sioux, Prairie Muzzleloader and North Sioux Muzzleloader.
Draw permit application dates
June 3-14, 2024
- Residents may purchase a preference point or apply for one antelope permit in the following: Banner North, Banner South, Box Butte East, Box Butte West, Cherry, Cheyenne, Dismal, Eastern Sandhills, Garden, North Sioux, Prairie Muzzleloader and North Sioux Muzzleloader.
- Nonresidents may purchase a preference point or apply for one antelope permit in the following: Antelope Archery.
Results of the draw will be available on or before June 21, 2024. Successful applicants will have until July 8 to complete the purchase of their awarded permits. Awarded but unpaid permits will result in the applicant losing preference points and forfeiting the permit. Forfeited permits may be made available to the next unsuccessful applicant, then go to the periods 7 and 8.
Resident permit sale dates
July 10, 2024 – close of seasons
- Residents may buy antelope permits within permit limits.
- Eligible resident landowners may buy any limited landowner antelope permits.
Nonresident permit sale dates
July 24, 2024 – close of seasons
- Nonresidents may buy any limited antelope permits in any unit subject to availability and within permit limits.
- Eligible nonresident landowners may buy any limited landowner antelope permits.
Remaining permit sale dates
Aug. 7, 2024 – close of seasons
- Any remaining permits from the previous periods may be purchased in any unit subject to availability and within permit limits. Eligible landowners may buy any remaining limited landowner permits.
Landowner application period
May 20-31, 2024
- Eligible resident and nonresident landowners may purchase a preference point or apply for one elk permit.
Draw permit application dates
June 3-14, 2024
- Residents may purchase a bonus point or apply for one elk permit. An applicant will not be issued an antlerless elk permit more than once every five years.
Apply for elk permit via any of the following:
- Online: GoOutdoorsNE.com during the applicable periods
- Mail to: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, 2200 N. 33rd St., Lincoln, NE, 68503
- In Person: Visit a Commission permitting office.
You must provide:
- A 2024 Big Game Application (available in the Big Game Guide, at permitting offices or online)
- Full name, birth date, address and physical description
- Last four digits of Social Security number (Non-U.S. citizens are exempt; call 402-471-0641)
- Hunter or bow hunter education number, if required
- Payment: Credit or debit card (VISA, Discover and MasterCard only), cash, check or money orders
- Email address (used to notify successful applicants of permit drawings)
Those not providing valid email addresses will be responsible for monitoring their status online. Results of the draw will be available on or before June 21. Successful applicants will have until July 8 to complete the purchase of their awarded permits. Permits awarded but unpaid will result in the applicant losing their preference points and forfeiting the permits. Any undrawn permits may carry over to the Resident Permit Purchase Period and the Nonresident Permit Purchase Period. Any forfeited permits may be made available to the next unsuccessful applicant, then may carry over to the Remaining Permit Purchase Period.
Remaining permit sale dates
Aug. 7, 2024 – close of seasons
- Any remaining permits from the previous periods may be purchased in any unit subject to availability and within permit limits. Eligible landowners may buy any remaining limited landowner permits.
Bighorn Sheep Lottery
This once-in-a-lifetime hunt includes up to four days of guide service from Nebraska Game and Parks staff and up to four nights of meal and lodging at Fort Robinson State Park. Proceeds from the lottery provide support for the management of this historic species in five areas of Nebraska’s panhandle region.
Application dates
- April 15, 2024, after 1 p.m. CST, through Aug. 2, 2024 – Residents can apply for the bighorn sheep lottery during this period.
Permit application dates
- Spring: Jan. 8 after 1 p.m. CST – May 31, 2024
- Hunters may purchase up to two spring permits in 2024.
- Fall: Aug. 12 after 1 p.m. CST – Nov. 30, 2024
- Hunters may purchase one fall permit in 2024.
Application dates
Nov. 6 – Dec. 13, 2023
Permit applications
Applications for lottery permits are accepted from 1 p.m. CT on the first Monday in November through the second Wednesday in December prior to each open season. Mail applications must be received in the Commission’s Lincoln headquarters office by 5 p.m. CT, and internet applications must be received by 11:59 p.m. CT. All valid applications accompanied by the required fee (Administration Regulations, Chapter 1, Section 006) shall be considered equally in a random drawing. It is unlawful to submit more than one application per calendar year for a mountain lion permit. If more than one such application is submitted by or for any person, all of that person’s applications shall be excluded from the drawing and the accompanying fees shall be forfeited.
If the limit and/or female sub-limit has not been reached in one or both units by the end of the season, a limited number (equal to the animals remaining in the year’s limit) of permittees will be allowed to hunt with the aid of dogs in an auxiliary season in the Pine Ridge. Permits for the auxiliary season will be granted to unsuccessful permittees from the initial season via a lottery.
Nebraska offers two big game multi species lotteries for resident and nonresident hunters. One permit in each lottery is awarded annually. The application period for the lotteries generally starts in January and ends in early July.
Application dates
- Jan. 2 – July 5, 2024
Selecting a Big Game Permit
Nebraska has five species of big game: white-tailed deer, mule deer, antelope, elk and bighorn sheep. Each species has its own permit, and a hunter must have a permit prior to taking an animal. Learn what you need to know to get started selecting a big game permit in Nebraska.
Season dates
With a broad diversity of species and seasons, hunters in Nebraska can have a busy year. Find our comprehensive list of season dates by species.
Telecheck
The Nebraska Telecheck Program allows hunters to check deer or antelope by telephone or online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, other than during the nine-day firearm season.
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